Naga peace accord shouldn't affect neighbours: Manipur MP

Thangso Baite, the Congress Lok Sabha member from Outer Manipur, on Monday cautiously welcomed the peace accord between the government and the the NSCN-IM, saying it should not affect the neighbouring states.

"We were anxiously awaiting the peace accord provided it does not affect the neighbouring states," the MP from a constituency that has a large Naga population told IANS here.

"If it affects the neighbouring states, it cannot be a peace solution," Baite said alluding to the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah's (NSCN-IM) earlier demand for a 'Greater Nagalim' that should include areas with Naga population in the neighbouring states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur.

He said he was "not sure which direction the Indian government was taking".

Asked how effective the agreement would be given that the NSCN-Khaplang (NSCN-K) faction had abrogated the ceasefire with the government in March this year, he said: "Since the NSCN-Khaplang had abrogated its ceasefire, we cannot be sure about the progress or digress of the accord."

The landmark peace accord was signed between the government and the NSCN-IM in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah, who signed the pact, described it as a momentous occasion.

Muivah belongs to the Tangkhul Naga tribe that hails from Manipur's Ukhrul district that is part of Baite's constituency.