Mizo parties ask PMO not to finalise Naga framework accord

Aizawl: Major political parties, NGOs and students associations in Mizoram have asked the prime minister not to finalise the Naga Framework Agreement without solving the political problems of the Mizos living in the hill areas of Manipur. A press statement issued here today by the Mizo Students Federation said that the memorandum, signed by presidents of all the political parties, NGOs and student bodies, was submitted to the Prime Minister’s office yesterday. A copy of the memorandum was also given to the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and R N Ravi, the interlocutor for Naga peace talks. The memorandum urged the Centre not to finalise the Naga Framework Agreement without solving the political problems of the Mizos living in the hill areas of Manipur. “The ongoing peace talks between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M) is most likely to have effect on the Mizo people residing in Manipur adjoining Mizoram,” it said. It said that if special autonomy is given to the Naga- inhabited areas in Manipur, such autonomy should also be accorded to the Mizos in that state. If the Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur are amalgamated with ‘Nagalim’ (greater Nagaland) by provisions of the Naga Agreement as demanded by the NSCN, the Mizo inhabited areas in Manipur should also be amalgamated with Mizoram, it said. (PTI)