Centre signs historic Naga peace deal with NSCN-IM

In a significant development, the Narendra Modi government on Monday signed a historic Naga peace deal with northeast-based group National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM).

The deal was inked at 7 RCR in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah.

Addressing the gathering at the event, the Prime Minister asserted on the need of the deal, saying, "The Naga political issue had lingered for six decades taking toll on our people."

Reaching out to the people of northeastern part of the country, the Prime Minister said, "I have the deepest admiration for the Naga people." He further hailed the Naga group saying, "I am glad that NSCN kept the ceasefire agreement for two decades."

"Peace and economic transformation of northeast has been my top priority…the Naga problem took long to resolve because we did not understand each other," said PM Modi.

Earlier, NSCN-IM leader Muivah said that the group and the Indian government had "come close to understand each other under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi".

"To make the accord meaningful, expectations of people need to be fulfilled...Nagas can be trustworthy and can be taken into confidence for any policy," he further said.