Deve Gowda compliments Narendra Modi on Naga peace accord

BENGALURU: Congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Naga peace accord, Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda today hailed the pact as a "major achievement" to usher peace in the region.

"This peace accord with Naga insurgent groups is one of the major decisions to bring peace in the North Eastern states in general, particularly Nagaland," he told reporters here.

Reminding that the initiation of talks with Naga groups happened during his tenure as Prime Minister, he recalled his meeting with leaders of the groups in Switzerland and various steps taken by his government for peace in the region that included announcement of a package.

"This peace accord with Naga groups is a major achievement to see to that there is peace in the region. I hail this decision of the Prime Minister," he added.

With an aim of ending insurgency in Nagaland, government had yesterday signed an accord with key outfit NSCN(IM), which Modi described as a "historic" step to usher in peace in the state.

Before the agreement was signed yesterday, the Prime Minister had spoken to several national leaders, including Gowda.

Gowda said the Prime Minister had called him to inform about the accord and that he congratulated the PM and told him that this was one of the major achievements.