Muivah on way to Delhi for next round of talks

The NSCN(IM) general secretary,who is also ‘prime minister’ of the Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN),is most likely to meet R S Pandey,the Centre’s interlocutor,in the national capital. Pandey was in Nagaland for about a week earlier this month. At that time he met with cross-sections of people on the ongoing Naga peace talks.

Since his arrival in India last month,Muivah has met PM Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram apart from holding discussions with Pandey.

He has also been meeting leaders and representatives from various sections of Naga society to reach a consensus on ways to carry forward the peace process. He is also briefing Naga organisations on the status of the current peace process to dispel any misgivings,sources said.

The Centre had 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 strong opposition from Manipur,Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

ULFA chief wants to meet ailing mother,writes to Gogoi

Express news service

Arabinda Rajkhowa,chairman of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA),who is currently lodged in jail,has requested Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to allow him to travel to his home to see his ailing mother.

The application seeking government’s permission was forwarded on Tuesday by Ajay Rajkonwar,Rajkhowa’s younger brother. Rajkhowa was officially arrested in December last year while trying to cross over to India from Bangladesh. He is currently in Guwahati Central Jail.

“The condition of our 96-year-old mother has deteriorated in the past few days. She wants to desperately see him. That is why I have written to the CM to grant my brother permission to come home and see our ailing mother,” Ajay said.

Damayanti Rajkonwari,Rajkhowa’s mother,lives in Ujani Konwargaon village in Sivasagar district. She is suffering from old-age ailments and has been confined to bed for the past couple of years.

Rajkonwar also tried to move a similar application before the court seeking its permission to let Rajkhowa visit his mother. However,the courts have closed for Rongali Bihu,the Assamese New Year festival.