Sonia points out “arrogance” of govt for not consulting north-east CMs

New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday pointed out the "arrogance" of the central government in not consulting the chief ministers of the north-eastern states before signing the Naga Accord with the NSCN-IM.

"We are really shocked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn't even think of taking into confidence the chief ministers of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh which are the directly affected states," Gandhi told reporters outside parliament.

"It is the arrogance on the part of this government. How can an accord be signed without consulting the CMs that are directly affected even if the accord is being termed as historic," she said.

Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi termed the move as an insult to the people of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh as they were not even informed about it.

The central government and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) on Monday signed the Naga Peace Accord settling an almost 20-year-old peace negotiation process that started in 1997 after the group signed the ceasefire agreement.

(IANS)