State Govt awaits Centre’s response on talks with HNLC
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has virtually ruled out the possibility of releasing jailed GNLA chairman Champion R. Sangma as demanded by the outfit for initiating peace talks saying “There is no question of listening to the demand of any terrorist organization like GNLA”.
“GNLA continues to be a terrorist organization. We will take into consideration its demand only when the outfit stops its anti-national and criminal activities,” Sangma said here on Wednesday.
While welcoming the state government’s recent offer for conditional talks, the Garo rebel outfit demanded release of its chairman for the purpose.
When asked if GNLA is getting personal by targeting his constituency Ampati, he said that all these things were being examined by the Government.
He informed that several senior officers were in Garo Hills, especially Ampati to take stock of the situation.
“Though the GNLA leadership is operating from jungles,” he said adding that there was a need to examine its use of various social media network to propagate its agenda.
“We should commend those people who have come out openly defying the GNLA bandh,” Sangma said.
Reacting to the offer of former HNLC chairman and Mawhati legislator Julius Dorphang to be a negotiator for the proscribed HNLC, the Chief Minister said that the matter of negotiation with the HNLC would jointly be decided by the Centre and State Government.
“A request for initiating dialogue with HNLC has been sent to the Union Government and we are awaiting its response,” Sangma said.
He said that Government has made its stand very clear that they (HNLC) should create a conducive environment by stopping criminal activities. “The outfit must drop its anti-India stand from its agenda,” he said. The Chief Minister said that at present, several splinter groups have expressed their eagerness to sit for talks. “The concerned department is on the job in this regard,” Sangma said.
