Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, February 11, 2010:
Former petroleum secretary RS Pandey has been appointed as the new interlocutor for Naga talks and carry forward the peace process with insurgent group NSCN-IM.
"I am happy to announce the appointment of RS Pandey as the interlocutor and the representative of the government of India to hold talks with NSCN-IM," Home Minister P Chidambaram said in a statement.
Pandey has been appointed in place of former home secretary K Padmanabhaiah, who as an interlocutor handled for almost a decade the dialogue process with NSCN-IM.
Last September, the govt relieved Padmanabhaiah from the responsibility.
Chidambaram also welcomed the decision of the NSCN-IM leadership to visit India and hold talks with the government.
On Tuesday, the Centre announced that it would hold dialogue with NSCN-IM's top leadership in the first week of April, giving a fresh impetus to the Naga peace process.
- PTI.