Muivah, who came here from Amsterdam with four other leaders, again raised the demand for a Greater Nagaland but the Centre made it clear that the demand for bringing the Naga-inhabited areas of the region into a single administrative setup was not possible in view of the strong opposition from Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
But the Centre, sources said, could suggest granting more autonomy to the area. Sources told The Indian Express that the Centre’s new interlocutor, former Petroleum Secretary R S Pandey, will unveil a series of measures to try and break the deadlock.
The interlocutor, the sources said, could propose setting up an autonomous Naga territory with some sort of constitutional backing.
At an “informal” meeting with Pandey at an undisclosed location, the NSCN-IM team handed him a charter containing 30 demands. Sources said formal talks will begin tomorrow.
The NSCN-IM leadership was initially opposed to Pandey as interlocutor, saying he was close to former Nagaland Chief Minister S C Jamir.
Asked about Pandey, Muivah said: “The Government of India has confidence in him. So we will talk to him. But if the talks do not yield any result, then we will say no.”
Chidambaram refused to disclose anything on the issue, only saying that he hoped the talks would “lead to an honourable negotiated settlement”.
Muivah with outfit chairman Isak Chishi Swu had last visited India in 2006 and held talks with the Centre.