Kohima, March 15: The Nagaland governor today warned the rebel groups active in the state against undermining the authority of the state government.

Addressing the Assembly at the start of the budget session, governor Shyamal Datta said, ?The government views with concern the attempts on the part of parties under ceasefire to undermine the writ of the administration.?

Admitting that there has been ?loss of lives? in clashes between rebel factions in the past year, Datta urged the civil administration to be more firm. He reiterated the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government?s stance of maintaining equal closeness with all rebel outfits.

Datta said initiating peace talks between Delhi and the NSCN (I-M) was a big step towards finding a solution to the Naga political problem. He said the people of Nagaland have demonstrated that they want settlement of the problem through peaceful means.

The NSCN (I-M) has recently adopted several resolutions, including deciding to settle the problem through peaceful means.