State BJP keen to mediate between HNLC, Govt

SHILLONG: The state BJP is keen to break the ice between the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and the state government and pave the way for talks between them.
The banned militant outfit had earlier expressed its willingness to sit for discussion. However, the state government wanted the group to first lay down their arms and surrender.
State BJP president Earnest Mawrie on Monday said that the party wants peace to prevail in the state and since they are part of the ruling MDA they would initiate discussions in this regard.
Mawrie said that since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over, insurgency-related incidents have come down by 70 per cent in the North East besides a 79 per cent drop in civilian deaths.
He also informed that cases of kidnapping and extortion have gone down by 62 per cent in the region while there has been a reduction in casualties among security forces by 78 per cent.
He said that under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 almost 6 lakh job cards have been issued in the state. During COVID-19, the Centre has released Rs 151 crore for MGNREGS workers, he said. Besides, he said that almost 11,000 tonnes of rice and almost 4,000 tonnes of dal have been allocated to the state.
He said that the Centre has a vision to strengthen the energy security of the North East by the year 2030 and a 1,656-km gas pipeline has been announced which would connect cities like Guwahati, Shillong and Aizawl.
Stating that the state has received a record sanction of Rs 900 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in addition to another record sanction of Rs 321.88 crore under the Central Road Fund (CRF), he said that with this even the existing roads can be repaired and upgraded.
According to Mawrie, the state was allocated Rs 86.02 crore in 2019-2020 under the Jal Jeevan Mission announced by the prime minister.