Mediator joins BJP ahead of IM-GoI talks
Source: The Sangai Express / Courtesy: Assam Tribune

New Delhi, December 14 2013 : In a major jolt to the ongoing Naga peace talks, the Centre's interlocutor, RS Pandey, on Friday joined the BJP, leaving the Union Government high and dry.

At least three former top bureaucrats, including ex-Union Home Secretary RK Singh, joined the BJP at a function presided over by BJP president Rajnath Singh.

The other two included an ad-ministrative officer from the Indian Railway Service, Dha-ram Singh, and Pandey.

"The BJP is the only option at this crucial stage.

And there is a need for change," Pandey, a Nagaland Cadre officer who retired as the Pe-troleum Secretary, told news- men soon after joining the saffron party.

Home Ministry officials, when contacted, said that they are yet to receive Pandey's resignation letter though they had some inkling.

"I think the letter must be on its way.

But so far, we have not received it," confirmed Joint Secretary (North-east) Shambhu Singh.

When asked about the next course of action, the Joint Se-cretary said that they have to now look for a new interlocutor.

The latest round of negotiations with the NSCN (I-M) was held last month at the interlocutor level after a gap of one year.

Pandey was at the centre of a controversy when a purported agreement offering a Supra State to the NSCN (I-M) was leaked by a newspa- per.

The Centre later clarified it was a concept paper submitted by one of the Naga organisations and not the agreement.

Interestingly, Pandey joined the party on a day when the Parliamentary Stan-ding Committee on Home Ministry, which is headed by M Venkaihiah Naidu and includes Ramen Deka as one of the members, in its report to the Parliament, expressed concern over the prevalence of insurgency in the North-east, with the neighbouring countries of the region aiding and abetting ultra groups in the region.

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