Naga peace pact is only a ‘formula’ for a final accord, Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang on Sunday asserted while seeking to allay apprehensions of other northeastern States, and said he and other Assembly members were even ready to step down to make a new beginning.
Voicing confidence that other rebels groups would also come on board after the signing of agreement between NSCN-IM and the Centre, he said a 16-member Naga delegation will visit Myanmar to meet SS Khaplang, the chief of the other Naga rebel group NSCN-K which had abrogated the ceasefire agreement and attacked security personnel, including a convoy of Army killing 18 soldiers in Manipur in June.
“I along with all members of the Nagaland Assembly are ready to step down, if an acceptable and honourable solution is found to the Naga people, in order to make a new beginning,” the Chief Minister, whose Naga People’s Front is an NDA ally, said.
His remarks are significant as the region has a history of rebels groups joining political mainstream and even assuming power after signing of peace accords.
Chief Ministers of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have said they will not cede an inch of their land. They have protested for being consulted before signing of the pact 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.
Zeliang said when he would meet his counterparts in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, he would tell them that Naga people were asking Government of India that their right to uphold their customary system be strengthened “in their own land”.
The Chief Minister said even Bodo issue was resolved and he was very happy when Mizo accord was signed.