New Delhi : In what could give a great boost to government’s efforts to curb militancy in North-East India, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) signed a peace deal with the Government of India on Friday.
The historic pact was inked at 7 RCR, the official residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, in the presence of top NSCN-IM leaders, including its founding leaders Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu and Home Miister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, BJP president Amit Shah.
“Peace, security and economic transformation of North-East has been one of my highest priorities,” PM Modi, who was presented with a Tangkhul Naga shawl and jacket by Naga leaders, said.
Describing the peace accord as historic, the prime minister appreciated Naga leaders for showing ‘wisdom’. “Unfortunately, the Naga problem has taken so long to resolve because we did not understand each other,” PM Modi said, reported India Today.
“I compliment the NSCN-IM for maintaining the ceasefire agreement for nearly 2 decades with a sense of honour. Nagas represent highest level of humanism, system of village administration and grass-root democracy should be a source of inspiration to the rest of the country,” he added.