AIZAWL:
The 36th anniversary of Mizo Accord to commemorate the signing of the historic peace pact between Indian government and erstwhile underground Mizo National Front (MNF) was celebrated across Mizoram on June 30.
State chief minister Zoramthanga, who addressed the main function at Vanapa Hall in Aizawl, said that the conditions laid down in the accord were neither the best choice of the Mizo people and the Mizo National Front (MNF) nor that of the government of India.
“The accord was a compromise, give and take and reciprocal deal between the Mizo people and the Centre, which made peace a possibility and which could be acceptable for all the stakeholders,” Zoramthanga said.
He said that the road towards peace was arduous through difficult terrain, but divine intervention made it possible.
One of the provisions of the accord, Article 371(G), that gives certain special provisions to Mizoram, cannot be scrapped by the Centre alone, Zoramthanga added.
“Article 371(G) of the Constitution was one of the most significant outcomes of the peace accord signed between MNF and the Indian government. Since it was made between two parties with great sacrifices in accordance with the conditions in the accord, it cannot be removed unilaterally by one of the parties at its whims,” he said.
Article 371(G) of the Constitution states that the parliament cannot decide on the matters of the religious and social practices of the Mizos, civil and criminal law of the land, land ownership transfer, and customary law procedure without the consent of the assembly.
The provision came into effect in 1986 following the signing of the historic Mizo Accord between the Centre and the erstwhile underground MNF led by Laldenga. Mizoram, then a Union territory, was granted the status of full-fledged statehood on February 20, 1987.
The celebrations were held in all the 11 districts and big towns across the state.
Mizoram, then known as “Mizo district”, one of the districts of Assam, was plunged into insurgency when the MNF, led by Laldenga declared independence from the Union of India on March 1, 1966 by taking up arms.
Peace finally came to Mizoram when MNF president Laldenga, Union home secretary RD Pradhan and Mizoram chief secretary Lalkhama signed the accord on June 30, 1986 in the presence of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Signing of the peace accord resulted in all the MNF combatants coming overground and laying down of arms in 1986, installation of an interim government headed by Laldenga as Chief Minister and the then Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla of the Congress as Deputy Chief Minister in a coalition government.
Mizoram, then a union territory, was elevated to a full-fledged state on February 20, 1987 and Laldenga became the first chief minister of the state with the MNF winning a majority in the elections held that year.
Since then, the state became one of the most peaceful states in the entire country and the accord was considered the most successful and time-tested accord ever signed with any militant group in India.