Govt hails HNLC’s I-Day stand

SHILLONG: While welcoming the decision of the proscribed HNLC not to boycott the Independence day celebrations, the State Chief Secretary K S Kropha said on Monday that the government will still reflect on the stand of  the rebel outfit and take a call later whether to invite it for talks.
“This is a new development and a welcome gesture. The state government should be given some time to reflect on the matter”, Kropha said when asked about whether the state government will now hold dialogue with HNLC since it has given up the anti-national stand.
Recently, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma had refused to hold any political dialogue with  HNLC by saying that by holding political talks with ANVC, the government had learnt bitter lessons since there were many breakaway factions of ANVC.
Moreover, the Chief Minister had also made it clear that the militant outfits should eschew the path of violence before coming for negotiation.
However, the HNLC in its statement issued on Sunday hoped that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju will take steps to start political dialogue with the militant outfit.
Asked whether HNLC can hold direct talks with Centre, the Chief Secretary said that nothing is final as to whether the Centre will hold direct talks or will go for tripartite talks.