Nagaland CM appeals for contribution to peace efforts in state

Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang on Tuesday appealed to the Naga people to contribute positively to peace efforts in the state and to ensure early resolution to the protracted Naga issues.

"We must ensure that the final solution brings permanent peace to our land. The settlement must be honourable and acceptable to all sections of the Naga society," he said at the Moatsu festival at Sungratsu and Longmisa in Mokokchung district.

"If we miss this opportunity, it won't be a loss for the Indian government, but loss of our children and grandchildren."

"We must not miss this opportunity. We must actively and supportively participate in the peace process. It will be futile to complain or object after details of the settlement are worked out by the negotiating parties," the chief minister said.

He said if Nagaland's assembly members could came on one platform for ensuring a permanent settlement to the Naga problem, why cannot the warring factions of Naga rebel groups come together.

Zeliang said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was eager to bring about an early settlement to the decades-old separatist problem in Nagaland.

"The government of India under Modi's leadership is eager to bring an early settlement to the Naga political problem."

The Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), which is fighting for an independent Nagaland for over six decades, had signed the framework agreement on August 3 last year after almost 20 years of negotiations with the Indian authorities.

--IANS

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