Nagaland peace agreement announced by govt in 2015 a farce, alleges Cong

NEW DELHI, 18 Aug: The Congress on Thursday claimed that the Nagaland peace agreement announced by the government in 2015 is a farce and accused the government of indulging in disinformation.

Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar said that “the BJP only wants to win elections and is not interested in resolving the long pending issue of peace in Nagaland.”

He said that, for the past 25 years, there has been a ceasefire in Nagaland, and alleged that the prime minister lied that a peace agreement had been reached on 3 August, 2015, “but for the last seven years, nothing in the name of peace has been achieved.”

“The solution is being delayed because the Modi government is seeking the support of armed groups of NSCN to win assembly elections in the state. Is there anything more antinational than the BJP?” Kumar told reporters.

He claimed that the Congress has always thought about the nation first, as it signed the Assam Accord, knowing that it will lose elections. “But for the BJP, they have to win elections even if the nation loses,” he said.

The Congress leader also claimed that the “election department of BJP” was enquiring against Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for huge assets but suddenly it has been stopped by the ED.

He also questioned the head of North East Development Authority Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging that he is taking MLAs to resorts but is not able to find a solution to the Naga problem.

Nagaland Congress chief K Therie asked, “Why Prime Minister of India should betray the people of Nagaland who want peace in the state?”

“We now see in clear terms that the Centre is not for any settlement. That choice with people of Nagaland, the choice was between communalism and secularism and we chose secularism. Today the choice for people of Nagaland is should we opt for communalism or should we go with communists. Because secularism is failing,” he said.

On the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, it was expected that there would be some announcement to settle political problem, he said.

“There is no ceasefire and the Election Commission is not doing anything about the weapons. The government has completely collapsed. There is no law and order in the state,” Therie alleged. (PTI)