Dimapur, July 19 — The Rising People’s Party (RPP) on Friday criticized the Centre’s interlocutor for the Naga peace talks, A.K. Mishra, accusing him of offering “false hope” without any concrete steps toward resolving the long-standing issue.
In a strongly worded statement, the RPP described Mishra’s regular visits to Nagaland as “fruitless” and a “waste of taxpayers’ money.” The party questioned the purpose of his recurring engagements in the state, alleging that both Mishra and the Government of India lacked the will to find a lasting political solution.
“An astute person like him should excuse himself from making monthly trips to the state just to excite some gullible minds, because neither he nor the government of India has any intention of resolving the Naga issue,” the party said.
The RPP’s statement followed a joint meeting held on Thursday in Chumoukedima, where Mishra met with representatives of two factions of the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) — one led by N. Kitovi Zhimomi, and the other by Neokpao Konyak and Alezo Venuh. He is also expected to hold discussions with the NSCN (K) Niki group during his ongoing visit.
While the meetings have generated some optimism among the Naga political factions, the RPP claimed that the general public remains unconvinced and largely indifferent to the developments.
“Once again, the factions may be excited, but the general public is merely amused,” the statement read.
The party also criticized former interlocutor and ex-Governor R.N. Ravi, accusing him of derailing the peace process by discarding the Framework Agreement, which was signed with NSCN (IM) in 2015, and pushing instead for the Agreed Position, signed in 2017 with the NNPGs.
According to the RPP, Ravi’s approach created divisions within Naga political circles and contributed to the current stalemate in the peace talks.
The Naga peace process, involving multiple stakeholders and agreements, has remained unresolved for years despite several rounds of negotiations. The RPP’s remarks highlight the growing frustration among sections of the public and civil society over the lack of tangible progress.
