PM promises to consult NE states on Naga accord details

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today promised to consult North Eastern states in finalisation of the details of the peace accord signed with NSCN(IM) last week, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said here today amid a controversy over the issue.

The Manipur CM as also his Nagaland counterpart T R Zeliang separately met the prime minister here during which the issue related to the Naga peace accord was discussed.

“Manipur CM was informed that everything would be discussed with the state governments concerned before finalisation of the accord,” a state government statement.

A similar assurance was given to Zeliang who was accompanied by his Home Minister Y Patton during the meeting with Modi, sources in the state government said.

Zeliang later said the accord signed with NSCN(IM) on August three is just a framework for final settlement.

Pinning “great hopes” in Modi, he said consultations on the accord had been going on for the last two months during which civil society and local gropus were consulted.

Zeliang heads Nagaland Peoples Front, an ally of NDA, while Manipur is ruled by Congress.

The Prime Minister's assurance comes against the backdrop of attack by Congress President Sonia Gandhi on him, saying that North East Chief Ministers were not consulted on the Naga peace accord.

The Manipur Chief Minister, along with his counterparts in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, had protested for not having consulted the neighbouring states of Nagaland before signing the initial accord with NSCN-IM on Monday.

The NSCN-IM, which had given up its original demand of sovereignty a few years ago, has been asking for integration of Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. All three states are opposed to the outfit's demand.

The Manipur Chief Minister also met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and sought a copy of the Naga accord, which was signed by NSCN(IM) chief T Muivah and Centre's interlocutor RN Ravi.

Ibobi Singh told the Home Minister that the people of Manipur were anxious to know the details of the Naga peace pact and had the apprehension that it would affect the territorial integrity of the Manipur.

Rajnath Singh replied that the agreement was just a framework and it would not affect the territorial boundary of the neighbouring states.

The Home Minister also conveyed to the Chief Minister that the Centre would invite state governments of the North East for discussion while working out the final shape of the accord.

Sonia Gandhi on Thursday slammed the Modi government, saying it had "insulted" three North Eastern states whose Chief Ministers belonging to her party since they were not taken into confidence on the accord issue.

She chared the government with being "arrogant" in not briefing Congress chief ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Assam despite their states being "directly affected" by the pact.

BJP leader and Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today accused Congress of forcing its Chief Ministers of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh to retract statements on Naga peace accord and said it "augurs badly" for the country.