Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang today welcomed the signing of the peace agreement between the Centre and NSCN(IM) and hoped that the Naga people will be consulted before finalisation of the ‘framework agreement.’
The Naga political issue has dominated the social and political discourse of the Nagas for the last six decades, and it has been at the top of the agenda of every political party and government in Nagaland since statehood (1963), Zeliang said while unfurling the National tricolour at Secretariat Plaza here. Expressing happiness that the collective effort (of every section of Naga people) was beginning to bear fruits, the CM on behalf of the state government welcomed the signing of Peace Accord between the GoI and NSCN(IM) on August 3.
“This is the result of the collective effort and hard work by all concerned during the last 17 years of the Naga political dialogue,” he said. Maintaining that though they were not aware of detailed contents of the pact, the chief minister appealed to everyone not to entertain any negative thinking at this stage, either on the Prime Minister and Centre or on the leadership of the NSCN(IM). He said the Prime Minister has a “healthy attitude and respect towards the Nagas, and let us hope he will do what is best for the Nagas.” “At present, it appears that only the broad framework of the agreement has been worked out. It is expected that once the details of the agreements and modalities are worked out by the parties concerned, we will all be consulted before finalising them,” said Zeliang.
“Let us hope that beginning with the Naga Peace Accord, we will be able to see the dawn of peace and development in Nagaland very soon,” he said. The CM said that the overall law and order situation in the state has been by and large peaceful. However, the abrogation of ceasefire by NSCN(K) has given rise to killings of several personnel of the security forces, followed by death and injury of civilians in Phek district which is very unfortunate, he said.
