By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Contrary to the claims of Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma in the Assembly that the peace pact with the ANVC was at an advanced stage, a Union Home Ministry official has said that the peace process would take more time to complete.
Three months after the signing of the draft peace pact, the ANVC and the State Government are still awaiting a final settlement.
It was on January 5 that the draft peace pact was signed after an official level meeting held in Shillong between the representatives of the ANVC, the State and the Central Governments.
“The signing of final peace pact with the ANVC
militants is likely to take some more time with the Centre still processing the matter, Joint Secretary in charge of North East, Ministry of Home Affairs, Shambhu Singh, said on Saturday, adding that the matter was being processed at various levels.
When asked about the Chief Minister’s recent meeting with the Union Home Ministry officials to pursue the matter, Singh said, “This does not mean that the peace pact will be ready soon.”
He also informed that the draft peace pact is yet to be approved by the Union Cabinet.
“The issue is being taken up at various levels and it will take a couple of months to finally decide on the matter,” the official added.
