The panel, to pursue Naga issue with Centre

• The Nagaland government has decided to institute a committee comprising Opposition leaders to pursue the lingering Naga peace agreement and the Naga political issue with the Centre.
• The panel, headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, is expected to meet in Dimapur to discuss the way forward.

Naga political issue

Pre-Independence:

• The British occupied Assam in the year 1826 and the Naga Hills also became a part of British India in the year 1881.
• The first sign of the Naga rebellion is seen in the formation of the 'Naga Club' in the year 1918. Its members had asked the Simon Commission in the year 1929 to leave the Naga hills.
• The Naga National Council (NNC) was formed in 1946, which declared Nagaland an independent state on 14 August 1947.
• The 'Naga National Council' resolved to establish a "sovereign Naga state" and held a "referendum" in the year 1951, in which "99 per cent"voted in favour of an "independent" Nagaland.

After Independence:

• An underground Naga Federal Government (NFG) and Naga Federal Army (NFA) were formed on March 22, 1952.
• The Government of India sent troops to quell the rebellion and in 1958 the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was enacted.

Agreement in this regard:

• The NSCN (IM) entered into a ceasefire agreement with the Center in 1997 and talks are on between the two since then, while a group of seven different Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) also held separate talks with the Center since 2017.

• The Center signed a 'Framework Agreement' with NSCN (IM) in 2015, and an ""agreed position"" with NNPG in 2017.

• However, due to the demand for a separate Naga flag and constitution by the NSCN(IM), the signing of the final agreement on the long-pending Naga political issues has been delayed.