Govt. 'insulting people' of north-eastern states: Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today joined his mother Sonia Gandhi in lashing out at the Centre for not consulting the chief ministers of north-eastern states before signing the Naga Peace accord and said this was an 'insult to the people'.

He said their voices were being suppressed in the Parliament along with the voices of the three north-eastern states.

"It's an insult to the people of these three states, that their CMs have not been taken into confidence about this accord," he said.

The Congress president Sonia Gandhi also criticized the government on the issue, saying not consulting the chief ministers of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh over the signing of peace accord shows the Centre's 'arrogance'.

"We are actually shocked. The Prime Minister did not even take chief ministers into confidence, Manipur Chief Minister, Assam Chief Minister and Arunachal Chief Minister, who are directly affected. Here is another show of arrogance of this government," Gandhi told mediapersons here.

"It may be historic, but what about consulting the chief ministers of the states which are directly affected," she added.

The Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) on Monday successfully concluded the dialogue on Naga political issue and signed an agreement in Prime Minister Modi's presence.

In his statement at the signing ceremony, the Prime Minister lauded the courage and wisdom of the Naga leaders and civil society and thanked them for their co-operation in reaching the agreement.