Accept HNLC peace talks offer: HSPDP

SHILLONG: Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) party leader, KP Pangiang said that the State Government should accept the offer of HNLC for talks in order to bring peace in the state.
The party welcomes the offer of the HNLC to come forward for a peace dialogue. HSPDP urged both the State Government and the Centre to not take this matter lightly. “As a party, we are committed for the peace and development in the state,” the party general secretary Renikton Tongkhar said.
Plea to reconstitute boundary panel
The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) has submitted a proposal before the State Government to reconstitute the consultative committee on Assam-Meghalaya boundary dispute.
Party general secretary, Renikton Tongkhar said that in the committee, traditional heads of KHADC, JHADC and GHADC apart from other stakeholders should be involved even as he said that the policy of give and take can be adopted to resolve the issue.
He also said that the party wants the Union Government to amend the Sixth Schedule on para 12 A (b) by replacing the word “ President” by the word Governor in its place.”
On the issue, the party has also written to different political parties so that there can be a unanimity on the matter when they take it up with the Union Government.
Meanwhile, he said that the party is happy with the positive reaction given by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah to the proposal to remove the word President and replace it with the word Governor with regards to Paragraph 12 A(b) of the Sixth Schedule.
According to him, the Governor of Assam still has the power with regards to Paragraph 12 (b)
of the Sixth Schedule adding that the Governor of Assam can issue an order that the Act or any legislation of the Parliament will not be applicable to any autonomous district or autonomous region in Assam. He said that even Assam Finance Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma has endorse the suggestion made by Meghalaya to insert the word Governor in place of President.