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Padmanabhaiah's continuance in doubt

The government's U-turn over its ceasefire agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) has raised doubts about the continuance of the Centre's emissary K Padmanabhaiah.

Though Minister of State for Home Affairs I D Swami denied knowledge of any move to replace him, some members of the Union Cabinet are not happy with Padmanabhaiah's performance.

Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) parliamentary party's official spokesperson V K Malhotra said that former Lok Sabha speaker and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) stalwart P A Sangma's name was being floated as a possible replacement.

Swami admitted that some Northeast leaders expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which Padmanabhaiah handled the negotiations with the NSCN (I-M), the outcome of which eventually resulted in large-scale violence in Manipur.

"Another view is that Padmanabaiah has done the ground work and it is now time for a political leader of the stature of Sangma to take over the negotiations and clinch a deal with the banned outfit. Being from the Northeast, Sangma has a better understanding of the matter," Swami explained.

He reiterated the offer made by Union Home Minister L K Advani to NSCN leaders Issac Chisiswu and Th Muviah to visit Delhi to hold talks with the Centre.

"We have given the necessary travel documents to Muivah," Swami said.

When reached on phone, Padmanabaiah refused to comment on demands for his replacement.

"I have been given a job and I am doing it with all sincerity," is all he said.

Padmanabaiah also rubbished reports about the Centre revising the terms of the ceasefire agreement without the consent of the NSCN (I-M) saying one had to read between the lines the statement issued by the underground outfit rejecting the revision in the agreement.

I D Swami too pointed out that Muivah himself had not issued any statement contradicting the Centre on the issue.

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