Zeliang holds meeting with Naga leaders; NTAC, JCC absent

Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang on Wednesday held a meeting with civil society leaders on the ongoing crisis in the state arising due to announcement of reservation for women in Urban Local Bodies (ULB) polls, but the two major organisations spearheading the movement did not participate.

The three-hour-long consultative meeting was attended by around 50 Naga leaders and "fruitful discussion" was held on the entire sequence leading to the present crisis, CMO officials said.

The meeting, they clarified, was not called to adopt any resolution but to make the leaders understand the position of the state government on the issue, which would lead to the finding of an amicable solution.

Zeliang's cabinet colleagues also took part in the meeting which was not attended by Nagaland Tribes Action Committee (NTAC) and Joint Coordination Committee (JCC)-- the two bodies leading the protests.

NTAC and JCC had yesterday declared they would not attend the consultative or any other meeting convened by the Chief Minister unless he steps down as demanded by them.