Modi govt, NSCN(IM) sign historic Naga peace accord
After the success of striking a peace deal with the insurgent group, the government has set its eyes on other rebel groups in the North-East and Maoists.
In a major breakthrough in ensuring peace in conflict-hit North-East, the Narendra Modi government on Monday signed a peace accord with Naga insurgent group Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) - NSCN (IM).
Now, after the success of striking a peace deal with the insurgent group, the government has set its eyes on other rebel groups in the North-East and Maoists. Government sources said with the focus being on surrenders, the government hopes to stop these insurgent movements.
However, till now there has been no dialogue to strike a ceasefire with the Maoists unlike the North-East rebel groups. Successive governments at the Centre and the Maoist-hit states have maintained that there can be talks only when rebels lay down arms.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a historic step to usher in peace in the state. Outfit's leader T Muivah and government's interlocutor RN Ravi signed the pact in the presence of the prime minister, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval at the PM's residence.
Since the first ceasefire with the NSCN (IM) group in 1997, there had been a series of negotiations that finally resulted in the peace pact.
While NSCN (IM) is the biggest Naga rebel group that has maintained ceasefire, the NSCN (K) faction led by SS Khaplang had abrogated a 14-year-old ceasefire earlier this year and continues to indulge in violence. The group was responsible for the deadly attack on the Army in Manipur in June that killed 18 soldiers and injured 18 others.
While there has been a peace accord with NSCN (IM), the attack by NSCN (K) was a setback to the peace process. After the attack, the Union Home Ministry submitted a proposal to the PMO for banning the group and placing it in the list of terror outfits.
Describing the accord as "historic," Modi said: "Today, we mark not merely the end of a problem but the beginning of a new future. We will not only try to heal wounds and resolve problems, but also be your partner as you restore your pride and prestige."
Earlier, Modi had spoken to leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Mallikarjun Kharge of Congress, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, BSP's Mayawati, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury.
He also spoke to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Tamil Nadu counterpart J Jayalalithaa besides Nagaland Governor Padmanabha Acharya and state Chief Minister TR Zeliang. He also called up DMK leader M Karunanidhi and JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda.
"Agreement is a shining example of what we can achieve when we deal with each other in a spirit of equality and respect, trust and confidence; when we seek to understand concerns and try to address aspirations; when we leave the path of dispute and take the high road of dialogue," Modi said at the signing ceremony.
Terming the six-decade-old Naga problem as a contribution of the colonial rule, he said it is one of the tragedies of Independent India that we have lived with this legacy.
Muivah appreciated Modi's vision and wisdom and said Nagas can be trustworthy.
He said that the peace moves were first initiated by the then prime minister PV Narasimha Rao when the outfit gave a commitment for the ceasefire. The outfit leaders had then held talks with former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.
"The PM said negative ideas spread about rest of India amongst Nagas was part of the divide and rule policy of the colonial rulers," he said.