Mizo accord beacon of hope for lasting peace, says governor on Mizoram statehood day

Aizawl, Feb. 20 (PTI): Mizoram Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai hailed the Mizo Peace Accord, signed in 1986, as a beacon of hope for enduring peace as the north-eastern state celebrated its 34th statehood day on Thursday.

Pillai, while addressing a programme here on the occasion, said, “The signing of the historic Mizo Peace Accord on June 30, 1986 remains a beacon of hope for the world that peace can be attained and sustained if the people and leaders choose it over violence.”

Mizoram became the 23rd state of India in 1987 after the Mizo National Front (MNF) signed the peace accord with the Centre, ending a two-decade-long insurgency.

Before attaining statehood, Mizoram was union territory.

Observing that Mizoram’s endeavour since attaining statehood has been to attain self-reliance, Pillai urged the state government and denizens not to solely rely on central funding.

“Mizoram is abundantly blessed with resources in horticulture, handloom, handicrafts, human resource and tourism sectors, which we need to tap. It is our duty to provide a congenial socio-economic setting where our youth can flourish with pride,” he said.

He called upon the state government to work towards achieving a welfare state.

Pillai said the Centre has allocated 10 per cent of the Union budget for the development of the Northeast.

He also urged the churches and the NGOs to help the state government in combating AIDS and cancer.

Several programmes were held across the state on the occasion.

All government offices, educational institutes and banks remained closed on the account of the state government declaring a public holiday.

This is the second time after 10 years of Congress rule from 2008 to 2018 that official programmes were held on the occasion after MNF returned to power in the state in November 2018.

Meanwhile, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah greeted the people of Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh on their statehood day.

The vice president, in his message, said that people from the two hill states have made an immense contribution to India’s growth and development.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “On the occasion of their Statehood Day, greetings to the wonderful people of Mizoram. We are proud of the rich culture of this state. Those belonging to Mizoram have excelled in many spheres and contributed to India’s growth. Praying for Mizoram’s development in the coming years.”

The first Mizoram statehood day event was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Lammual in Aizawl on February 20, 1987.