Amid mounting pressure from the Opposition Congress, the government today sought to allay fears of neighbouring states of Nagaland by assuring them that they would be consulted before the final agreement with the NSCN-IM was signed.

This was conveyed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang who called on him to New Delhi today. "Before the final agreement is signed with the NSCN-IM, chief ministers of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will be taken into confidence," sources said quoting the home minister as having said to Zeliang during a 20 minute meeting.

Singh told Zeliang that the Central government has made it clear to NSCN-IM that their main demand of integration of Naga inhabitated areas would not be met but more powers would be given to local bodies like autonomous district council, the sources said.