Aizawl, Jun 30 (PTI) Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga on Monday asserted that the Mizo peace accord signed between the Centre and erstwhile underground MNF in 1986 was not only an accord between the MNF and the Union government but it represents the entire Mizo people.

The 39th anniversary of the Mizo peace accord was celebrated by the MNF across the state on Monday.

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However, there were no official functions to mark the peace accord day.

"Some vested interests say and devalue the Mizo peace accord as only the accord between the Centre and the MNF. It was signed by Laldenga on behalf of the MNF and Lalkhama (former state chief secretary) on behalf of the Mizo people, who did not go underground," Zoramthanga said while addressing the celebration of peace accord day in Saitual.

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The former rebel leader turned politician said that the Mizo peace accord was signed when both parties were in good and strong positions.

"Had the accord been signed when we were organisationally weak, we would have been too submissive. The accord, however, was signed when we were economically and organisationally strong," he said.

He said that Mizoram was elevated to full-fledged statehood from being a Union Territory with a special provision under Article 371 G after the signing of the historic Mizo accord.

He said that article 371 G provides special provision to Mizoram as no act of Parliament in respect of religious or social practices of the Mizos, Mizo customary law and procedure, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Mizo customary law, ownership and transfer of land, can be applied to Mizoram unless the state legislative assembly decide by resolution.

Only Mizoram and Nagaland have such special protection in the country, he said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)