<p>A visit by a delegation of European Union envoys to Nagaland triggered a row on Monday, with the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking a clarification from the Ministry of External Affairs on why the latter approved the tour without obtaining necessary clearance.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The MHA shot off a letter to the MEA on Monday regarding the EU envoys’ visit to Nagaland. The MEA sources however maintained that the procedure of consultation and coordination among all organisations and ministries concerned were followed before the visit was cleared.<br /><br />A spokesperson of the “Delegation of the European Union to India” said the envoy’s visit was cleared by MEA.<br /><br />EU’s Ambassador to India, João Cravinho, and top diplomats from the embassies of Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland, Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia in New Delhi, are on a three-day visit to Nagaland at present. They met the political leaders at the state Assembly in Kohima on Monday.<br /><br />India has always been cautious on allowing foreign envoys to visit conflict zones in Kashmir and the northeastern states. Some foreign diplomats were individually allowed to travel to the northeastern states in the past, particularly to explore opportunities to boost trade. <br /><br />MHA, in its letter, is understood to have protested MEA’s “unilateral” decision to allow the EU envoys’ tour to Nagaland and asked it to clarify the purpose of visit.<br /><br />The EU delegation visited Nagaland University and met Governor Nikhil Kumar. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was likely to host a dinner for them on Monday. Sources said MHA was particularly concerned over the delegation meeting leaders of political parties and civil society members in Nagaland. <br /><br />According to sources, persons with vested interests might try to take advantage of the EU diplomats’ visit to draw international attention to the six-and-a-half-decade-old insurgency by the Nagas.<br /><br />The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) now leads the Naga insurgency in Nagaland as well as parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. It has several informal offices overseas.</p>
<p>A visit by a delegation of European Union envoys to Nagaland triggered a row on Monday, with the Ministry of Home Affairs seeking a clarification from the Ministry of External Affairs on why the latter approved the tour without obtaining necessary clearance.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The MHA shot off a letter to the MEA on Monday regarding the EU envoys’ visit to Nagaland. The MEA sources however maintained that the procedure of consultation and coordination among all organisations and ministries concerned were followed before the visit was cleared.<br /><br />A spokesperson of the “Delegation of the European Union to India” said the envoy’s visit was cleared by MEA.<br /><br />EU’s Ambassador to India, João Cravinho, and top diplomats from the embassies of Czech Republic, Hungary, Finland, Poland, Bulgaria and Slovakia in New Delhi, are on a three-day visit to Nagaland at present. They met the political leaders at the state Assembly in Kohima on Monday.<br /><br />India has always been cautious on allowing foreign envoys to visit conflict zones in Kashmir and the northeastern states. Some foreign diplomats were individually allowed to travel to the northeastern states in the past, particularly to explore opportunities to boost trade. <br /><br />MHA, in its letter, is understood to have protested MEA’s “unilateral” decision to allow the EU envoys’ tour to Nagaland and asked it to clarify the purpose of visit.<br /><br />The EU delegation visited Nagaland University and met Governor Nikhil Kumar. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was likely to host a dinner for them on Monday. Sources said MHA was particularly concerned over the delegation meeting leaders of political parties and civil society members in Nagaland. <br /><br />According to sources, persons with vested interests might try to take advantage of the EU diplomats’ visit to draw international attention to the six-and-a-half-decade-old insurgency by the Nagas.<br /><br />The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) now leads the Naga insurgency in Nagaland as well as parts of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. It has several informal offices overseas.</p>
