‘Govt should bring all militant groups to the discussion table for complete peace’
SHILLONG: The existence of the Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) and its breakaway faction ANVC-B came to a historic end on Monday with the disbanding of the two outfits but still the biggest question is whether peace would return to Garo Hills since many other militant outfits including Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) are still active in the region.
The Shillong Times spoke to various political leaders and sought their response on whether the Agreed Text Settlement would bring much-needed peace to Garo Hills.
NPP spokesperson James Sangma said that the biggest obstacle to peace in Garo Hills was the fact that many militant outfits were mushrooming in Garo Hills.
“Peace is a distant dream in Garo Hills,” he said while alleging that the Government was not doing anything despite the fact that the Chief Minister himself had admitted to the “political-militant nexus” in the State.
Sangma observed that until and unless an independent or NIA inquiry was ordered into the political-militant nexus, peace will not prevail in Garo Hills.
The NPP leader also raised questions over the Agreed Text Settlement saying it was nothing more than a sham and added that there was nothing concrete in the settlement on how the cadres would be rehabilitated.
On the other hand, United Democratic Party (UDP) working president Bindo M. Lanong observed that the settlement would help in restoring peace in Garo Hills to a large extent.
He said that the Government should also invite other outfits to the table for talks.
“Garo Hills was peaceful before and after achieving statehood,” Lanong said while adding that other militant outfits too should come to the mainstream for restoring peace in Garo Hills.
MPCC working president Deborah Marak termed the entire event as a welcome step and asserted that the signing of the text settlement was the beginning of peace in Garo Hills.
While stating that criticism cannot be avoided, she hoped that the struggle of people would be over one day when there will be total peace in Garo Hills.
BJP general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty said that the entire Garo Hills would become a peaceful place if all the outfits come forward to join the mainstream.
“This is a right step by the NDA Government and this would bring peace and development in Garo Hills,” he said.