Kohima, June 27: The Opposition Congress, which has been criticising the Neiphiu Rio government for its “interim agreement” proposal, has now itself asked the Centre to formulate an “interim solution” to the Naga political imbroglio.

Rio had earlier advocated an “interim agreement” with the Naga militants currently engaged in dialogue with the Centre to keep the Naga peace process alive.

However, former Nagaland PCC president Hokheto Sumi had opposed Rio’s “interim agreement” proposal and had asked him to spell out what type of arrangement was being made under it.

In a volte-face, a delegation of Nagaland Congress leaders recently suggested that the Centre chalk out an “interim solution” to the Naga political problem acceptable to all the parties within a timeframe.

The delegates, who are currently camping in New Delhi and are led by PCC president Imtisungit Jamir and leader of Congress Legislature Party Tokheho Zhimomi, suggested that since the Naga groups had the same goal, they might be asked to formulate their opinions during this timeframe for a final settlement.

“Talks should be made transparent to enable all the groups and people to react constructively,” Jamir said.

However, PCC vice-president Nillo Rengma, justifying the volte-face by his party, maintained that the Nagaland Congress leaders had not proposed the “interim solution” but the issue had cropped up during a discussion with AICC leaders in New Delhi.

He said the Union leaders had asked their opinion on the Naga issue vis-à-vis how to push forward the peace process and subsequently the issue of interim solution had came up during the discussion. “We did not put forward a proposal for the interim solution. A discussion was on when they had asked our opinion,” Rengma told The Telegraph from Delhi.

He said the AICC leaders wanted to resolve the issue “but we don’t know about the progress of the talks as we are not part of the talks.” He said the Nagaland Congress did not know the substance of the talks as the Centre had never revealed it.

Rengma also said any solution would ultimately affect the people and they, therefore, had the right to participate in securing their future. He said almost 15 years of talks without a tangible result had tired the Naga people and, therefore, the Congress feel that a solution should be hammered out at the earliest.

The delegate also conveyed to the Centre that the Nagaland Assembly had adopted a unanimous resolution to pave the way for an honourable solution.

The Congress leaders had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and other AICC members with the twin agenda of Naga political issue and revocation of the expulsion of I. Imkong by the party high command.

The AICC leaders reportedly assured the Nagaland Congress leaders that the issue would be discussed during the meeting of Congress MPs in the second week of August.

Earlier, the Congress leaders insisted that Rio spell out exactly what an “interim agreement” on the Naga political issue was and reveal the progress of the talks between the Centre and the NSCN.

Refusing to divulge any formula that Nagaland may suggest to the Centre and the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) on the peace process, Rio had said the state government was a “facilitator” and would not like to intervene directly in the peace talks between the Centre and the NSCN.