B'lore/D'pur, April 15: With only two days left for another round of peace talks between the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and the Government of India, the organization claims that the peace talks has entered a crucial stage.

At the same time, the NSCN has alleged that some organizations in Nagaland and in the neighbouring North Eastern States are trying to derail the ongoing peace talks by tarnishing the image of the NSCN.

�So far in spite of the difference on the part of the Government of India, we are trying our best to go with the peace process�, Special Emissary to the collective leadership General (Retd.) VS Atem told ANI over phone from Bangalore.

�So far the talks are held in cordial environment and we are ready for the next round of talks,� he added.

Senior NSCN leaders have been touring various parts of the country to escape from the scorching heat prevailing in Delhi.

In their last leg, NSCN general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and others visited Karnataka, where the climate is moderate.

The NSCN leaders called on Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh and Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.

�The discussion with the Karnataka Chief Minister and former Prime Minister was very positive.

They gave full support to the ongoing peace talks�, Atem added.

The Naga insurgent leaders were also given a warm welcome by Naga students studying in Bangalore.

The NSCN delegation will leave for Delhi tomorrow.

The next round of talks will begin on Monday (April 18).The scene in the NSCN arena in Nagaland is different altogether.

The organization is banking on building image as the peace parleys enter a crucial stage.

The organisation�s top spokesperson in Nagaland, Kraibo Chawang, said over phone from camp Hebron:�Various anti-social organizations in Nagaland and neighbouring States opposed to the peace process are trying to derail the peace process by tarnishing the image of NSCN (I-M)�.

There is no change in the team of negotiators on either side.

The NSCN delegation is expected to meet the Central ministerial team on Monday, headed by Minister of State for Statistics & Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes.

Minister of State Prithiviraj Chauhan, S.Raghuati are the other members of the negotiating team.

Senior NSCN leaders Muivah and Isak arrived in India in December last year for talks with the Indian Government.

They have utilised the past four months in meeting a cross-section of the Indian political leadership and had several meetings with a cross-section of Naga society to assess the impact of their visit back home after more than four decades and to get a feel of the reactions on ground to their talks with the Centre.

By and large, the talks between the two sides have been welcomed as a much needed respite from decades of insurgency and instability that has affected the socio-economic development of the State and India�s north east overall.

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