Nation in dark on Naga settlement: Sonia

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday accused the government of keeping the nation in the dark on the contents, nature and status of the peace dialogue with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) faction.

"We are not privy to the contents of the Naga peace accord and we cannot give a blank cheque of support as of now," Gandhi told the Parliamentary Working Committee of the Joint Legislators' Forum (JLF) from Nagaland in New Delhi.

The delegation was led by Nagaland assembly Speaker Chotisuh Sazo. He was accompanied by Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang, Lok Sabha member Neiphiu Rio and a host of Nagaland legislators.

At the meeting, Gandhi promised the Naga parliamentarians of her party's support for the Naga peace accord "if the contents of the agreement were in the interest of the Nagas, the Northeast and the nation".

"We are not privy to the contents of the Naga peace accord and we cannot give a blank cheque of support," an official statement issued by the Nagaland Chief Minister's Office quoted her as saying.

"But when the government reveals the contents for discussion in parliament, and if it is in the interest of the Nagas, the Northeast and the nation, my party will surely support it," Gandhi said.

However, she expressed solidarity with the Naga people for the need to find an amicable, honourable and permanent peace in the state.

The delegation explained to the Congress chief about the formation of the JLF comprising leaders of all political parties in the state, mainly to project a common voice of the representatives of the people of Nagaland on the urgency to solve the protracted Naga problem.

"The merger of the Congress legislators with the NPF was solely for the purpose of finding an early solution to the Naga political problem and not because of any other exigency," the delegation said.

The delegation members later left for Kolkata to meet leaders of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress.