No achievement after prolonged talks with militants: Mukul

CM asks HNLC to join mainstream, opt for surrender package

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has asked HNLC to take a cue from the series of surrender of hardcore militants from Garo Hills and join the mainstream.
Recently, HNLC had criticised the state government for not being serious about initiating peace talks and pinned hope on the Centre.
However, in an interaction on the Assembly premises on Friday, Sangma said the militants should avail themselves of the rehabilitation package of the government and join the mainstream.
“This is also the recent stand of the Centre as prolonged talks with certain militant outfits of the Northeast are yet to achieve the desired results,” he said.
The chief minister also highlighted the futility of the so-called peace talks with NSCN-IM and other militant outfits in the Northeast saying so many years have passed, but there were no tangible outcome.
“What happened to the peace talks with NSCN-IM and NDFB, have they achieved anything after the protracted talks,” Sangma asked.
He said by realising the futility of waging war against the nation, the militants from Garo Hills have come forward to surrender with the sustained efforts of police, people, NGOs and church bodies.
The governor in his address on Day 1 of the budget session on Friday echoed the same views of the chief minister by saying the government’s recent approach to facilitate surrendered cadres to take advantage of the rehabilitation package and to assimilate into the national mainstream involving the Church and community leaders with the aid of district administration and police have been very successful.
In 2016, as many as 117 militants from various insurgent outfits surrendered before the police.