Naga peace accord won't affect Manipur: Rijiju
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 06 2015: Allaying all fears arising out of the recently-signed Naga Peace Accord between the Government of India and NSCN (IM), the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday assured that the pact was signed keeping in mind the interests of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

It may be mentioned the Government of India is yet to make the content of the agreement public.

Speaking to reporters after making an aerial survey of flood areas in the State, Rijiju on Wednesday said, "The sentiments of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will not be overlooked.

The peace deal is not going to serve the interests of one group or community.

It will be in the interest of the whole of Northeast." He reminded that the Northeast region has been facing insurgency for a long time but now people are yearning for peace.

The peace accord is a confidence building measure and it would not hurt the sentiments of the other Northeastern States, Rijiju assured.

The minister also pointed out that the agreement was just a "framework" and "confidence building step" and "foundation" for arriving at a permanent resolution to the Naga problem, with its exact terms to be finalized over the next three months.

He said the announcement of the terms of the accord would take some time and the "final contours will take into account the sentiments of not only Nagas but of all stakeholders" .

Rijiju expressed the confidence that the accord would bring in peace in the country in general and the Northeastern region in particular. On the violent agitation demanding ILPS in Manipur, the Union Minister of State said that the State Government can do everything within the State powers to safeguard indigenous peoples but the Centre would only consider when the Manipur Government comes up with a concrete proposal for safeguarding the interest of all the indigenous communities of the State.

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