“It is a welcome and wonderful development. Both parties have agreed and that augurs well.” That was the first reaction of K Padmanabhaiah, former Secretary, Home Affairs, and a key interlocutor for the peace talks with Naga militants for over a decade.

The statements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and NSCN (IM) leader Isak Muivah clearly show that they are on the same page. The signing of the historic agreement will surely go a long way in shaping developments in the North-East region, he told BusinessLine .

While indicating that he would wait for the fine print of the agreement before commenting further, Padmanabhaiah said that Modi stating his deepest regard and commitment to Naga causes and their belief in grassroots democracy, and the assertion by Muivah that the Nagas are very trustworthy, sound very positive.

Padmanabhaiah, who also played an important role in Jammu & Kashmir Affairs, said there were several occasions in the past when an agreement was close. The broad contours of a possible accord were always there. It is wonderful that the long process has seen a culmination, he added.

PVN’s key role Recalling the historical developments, the long standing bureaucrat said it was the late Prime Minister, PV Narasimha Rao, who started the entire process of peace negotiations with the Nagas.

Deve Gowda followed it up and was the first PM to meet the leaders. Thereafter successive prime ministers worked hard to achieve progress. While a peace accord was signed during the tenure of IK Gujral, Atal Bihari Vajpayee met the leaders in Osaka and New Delhi and so did Manmohan Singh.

The BJP Government had first named the interlocutors to continue the dialogue and the sustained moves to build trust and continuity have borne fruit, said Padmanabhaiah.

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