SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has said the state government is committed to resolving the pending issue of the Agreed Text of Settlement though several points in the pact are yet to be fulfilled by the government.
The Agreed Text of Settlement was signed between the Centre, State and the ANVC-ANVC-B on September 24, 2014.
The state government on Friday held a meeting with the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Satyendra Garg, and members of the disbanded ANVC over the issue of the rehabilitation of cadres and other issues in the pact.
The chief minister said the pending grievances of the disbanded group
including the need to provide rehabilitation package, will be examined.
“There were some concerns by the ANVC members, which we have taken note of,” the chief minister said.
Garg said the chief minister reviewed the progress made regarding the settlement. “Both the factions of ANVC have discussed the agreement,” Garg said.
The chief minister also expressed his happiness that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh have given thrust to solve the issue.
ANVC-B annoyed
Later, the chief minister and Garg held a separate meeting with members of the disbanded ANVC-B as the initial meeting was preponed.
“Why was this meeting rescheduled and why were we not called for the initial meeting? That is the big question,” chairman of the disbanded ANVC-B Rimpu Marak said.
In the course of the meeting, ANVC-B discussed rehabilitation package for cadres, besides inclusion of members of the disbanded group at the ministry and officers’ level committees which were constituted to look into the implementation of the agreement.
The meeting also discussed about the issues of the pact, including a medical college and Baljek airport in Garo Hills.
“The chief minister has assured us that he is going to look into the matter and we are hopeful that things will move this time,” Marak said.
Besides the chief minister, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, senior government officials and members of the ANVC were present in the meeting.
