SHILLONG, Feb 22: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has declined to comment on the progress of the peace process with the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
“I will refrain from talking about HNLC as it is an issue under process,” he said.
Sangma had visited New Delhi recently and met Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla regarding the HNLC’s offer for unconditional talks. He had requested the Centre to appoint an interlocutor for starting the peace talks as soon as possible.
The state government had received a letter from the HNLC expressing willingness to pursue peace without any preconditions and within the parameters of the Constitution.
The HNLC, claiming to represent the Khasi-Jaintia people, had been seeking sovereignty. It was banned twice by the Centre – in 2000 and 2019 – following its violent activities.
Lately, the outfit had claimed responsibility for a series of IED blasts in the state.
Attempts at brokering peace had failed earlier because of the preconditions the outfit had set. The government had also wanted the group to shun violence and lay down arms before talking truce.
Sangma, meanwhile, ruled out a Cabinet berth for suspended Congress Legislature Party leader, Ampareen Lyngdoh who recently extended support to the MDA Government along with four other party leaders.
He recalled that Ampareen had specifically mentioned that she would have no issue if she is not accommodated in the Cabinet. “She said that she will support the government in whatever way possible. She was clear that a cabinet berth was not a priority for her,” Sangma added.
Except for Ampareen, the four other suspended Congress MLAs have been appointed as co-chairmen of various corporations under the government.