Government signed a landmark peace treaty with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening. “They propagated awful myths about the Nagas in the rest of the country”, said Prime Minister Modi.
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“I thank god for this momentous occasion”, T Muivah said after signing the peace agreement.
Further details are awaited. The NSCN (IM) also presented a jacket and shawl as gift to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The rebel group, which has been fighting for a sovereign Naga homeland for decades and has finally given up on that, said that after decades of confrontation and untold sufferings, the Nagas responded to have political dialogue with the government of India in view of the acknowledgement that the government will seek peaceful solution leaving aside military solution to Naga issue.
“The Prime Minister said, “… unfortunately, the Naga problem has taken so long to resolve because we did not understand each other”.
Modi said leaders and people of Nagaland will not only build a bright future for the state but will also contribute to making the nation stronger and more inclusive.
“I can not say anything about the contents, but the principle which they have signed, I welcome it”, he added. Muivah said the government and Nagas were entering a “new relationship” but added that “beginning from now, challenges will be great”. Naga people have great respect for Mahatma Gandhi.
Modi said it was one of the tragedies of independent India that “we have lived with this legacy”.
He mentioned that the peace moves were first initiated by the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao when the outfit gave a commitment about ceasefire.
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While the ceasefire has held for the past 18 years, it has failed to bring about the desired result since at least four other insurgent groups are still active in Manipur, bordering China. “We appreciate the statesmanship of (former PM) Atal Bihari Vajpayee”.
