GUWAHATI: After SS Khaplang’s death opened the floodgates for governments to reach out to the Myanmar-based outfit with peace calls, the ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) in Nagaland on Wednesday appealed to the present NSCN (K) leadership to resume peace process with Delhi, from which the late insurgent leader had pulled out in 2015 by terminating a 14-year-old bilateral ceasefire agreement.The central executive committee of NPF adopted a resolution to urge “all sections of the Naga people, especially the NSCN (K) leaders to heed the call of the veteran leader, renounce violence of all forms and resume the peace process with the government without any further delay,” associate press secretary and convenor Sebastian Zumvu said.

A source said that the appeal to join the mainstream is clearly to all the Indian citizens in the NSCN (K), but the doors would be kept open if the Myanmerese members of the outfit want to follow suit.

A day after Khaplang died of heart attack after prolonged illness due to diabetes at the outfit’s headquarters in Myanmar, Union minister of state for home, Kiren Rijiju made an appeal to all Indian Nagas in NSCN (K) to lay down arms and join the mainstream and assured them rehabilitation if they abjure violence.

Khaplang was Hemi Naga tribesman from Myanmar and the other members in his faction are Nagas from both Myanmar and India. Rijiju had made it clear that India cannot talk about the Myanmarese members of NSCN (K). NSCN (K) vice-chairman Khago Konyak, who has succeeded Khaplang is an Indian from the Konyak tribe and is from Tobu sub-division of Mon district in Nagaland.

Among the top NSCN (K) leader’s, the outfit’s military adviser and the current second in command, Niki Sema alias Niki Sumi is also an Indian from Zunhebeto district from Nagaland while the outfit’s finance in-charge Starson Lamkang is from Porompat in Imphal East District of Manipur.

The committee also expressed appreciation and gratitude to the chief minister and NPF party president Shurhozelie Liezietsu for issuing a clarion call to the Naga people in his condolence message on Khaplang’s death “to rally together with renewed vigour and determination to find a solution to the Naga political problem which is honourable and acceptable to all stakeholders.”