Hill Voice, 30 June 2020, International Desk:  Today is the historic Remna Ni (Peace Day) in Indian state of Mizoram.

On 30 June 1986, a peace agreement was signed between the Mizo National Front and the Central government, ending 20 years of insurgency in Mizoram

Remna Ni (Peace Day) is a regional public holiday in the Indian state of Mizoram on June 30th each year.

This holiday commemorates the signing of an agreement on this day in 1986, that brought peace to the region.

History of Remna Ni:

Today, Mizoram can claim to one of the most peaceful states in the country, but that wasn’t always the case.

In 1959, while part of Assam, the Mizo Hills region suffered a great famine, known as the Mautam Famine. Unhappy with how the government responded to the crisis, the Mizo Cultural Society became the Mizo National Famine Front, organising aid and support to many villages.

In October 1961, the front dropped the word ‘famine’ from its name and became the Mizo National Front (MNF), with the goal of achieving sovereign independence of Greater Mizoram.

This led to a 20-year long insurgency in the Mizo Hills

The MNF was outlawed in 1967. A Mizo District Council delegation met Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi in May 1971 demanding a fully-fledged state for the Mizos. The union government offered the proposal of turning Mizo Hills into a Union Territory, which took place in January 1972.

On June 30th, 1986, an agreement was signed by the MNF and the Central government to end the insurgency.

After the peace agreement was signed, MNF President Laldenga became the Chief Minister of Mizoram.

Mizoram became the 23rd state of India, a step above Union Territory, on February 20th 1987.

On Reman Ni in 2018, former Chief Minister and MNF President Zoramthanga said that the peace accord brought tranquillity to the state with the efforts of both the MNF and the then central government.

Source: Online