New Delhi, Jan. 8: Cashing in on the rapport the NDA government has struck with the NSCN(I-M), the BJP has announced plans for a Democratic Alliance of Nagaland in a desperate bid to open its account in the Christian-dominated Nagaland and take on the might of the Congress there. The main election plank of the alliance will be to facilitate the peace talks with the insurgent organisation.

While the BJP and the Centre have managed to “befriend” the NSCN (I-M), the S.C. Jamir-led Congress government is reportedly being backed by the Khaplang faction of the NSCN.

The Khaplang faction today...

Imphal, Jan. 8: Manipuris vowed to protect the territorial integrity of the state today, a day before the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) leaders Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah meet Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for talks on the issue of “Greater Nagalim”. A mammoth rally, organised by the Solidarity Committee on the Territorial-Ethnic Integrity of Manipur (SCTEIM), was supported by more than 300 social organisations, including women’s organisations. Nearly one lakh people from all communities, including Nagas, attended the rally.

The rally began from the...

Kohima, Jan. 8: Springing a surprise a few hours before Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah were to reach New Delhi, the Khaplang faction of the NSCN indicated that its top leaders, including chairman S.S. Khaplang, could return to India later in the year for “political negotiations” with the Centre. Khughalu Mulatonu, a deputy kilonser (minister) in the NSCN (K) hierarchy, told The Telegraph over phone that his outfit had lined up “something very positive” for Nagaland. “Khaplang is keen to come to India and lay the stepping stone for a political process,” he said.

Khaplang, a Hemi Naga and...

New Delhi, Jan. 8: All arrangements are in place for NSCN leaders Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu’s visit to India, including their personal security guards and special cooks flown in from Dimapur. The interaction of Muivah and Swu with India’s top political leadership will set the tone for the peace talks aimed at ending one of the country’s oldest separatist movements.

The Intelligence Bureau will be responsible for the overall security of the two Naga leaders and senior members assembled in the national capital. The inner security cordon around Swu and Muivah will be manned by NSCN...

Jan. 8: After over five years of parleys on foreign shores, the Naga peace process moves to India tomorrow when the “collective leadership” of the NSCN (I-M) meets the “Central leadership” in New Delhi in what has been described as a “historic date” in the five-decade-old Naga movement. Barring a last-minute change in schedule, NSCN (I-M) leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah will meet Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani to launch the first round of political talks on “substantive issues”.

During their stay in India, the duo, scheduled to reach...