SHILLONG, March 31: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said Peter S Dkhar, the government-appointed interlocutor for peace talks with the banned HNLC, has already set the ball rolling for bringing the latter to the talks table by sending communications to individuals who will coordinate between the two parties.
Sangma said official discussions will start once the coordination effort is completed. “The process has begun and talks will take place in the next level,” he said.
Meanwhile, the CM asked the Centre to completely repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
Sangma was reacting to the Centre’s decision to reduce the areas under AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur.
He said that going by the prevalent circumstances in the region, the Act should be completely repealed since it has gone beyond its time and has not really achieved its objective.
He was confident that this move will send a positive message to the people of the region and signify the concern the Prime Minister and the Home Minister have for the people of the Northeastern region.
BJP state president, Ernest Mawrie also lauded the Centre for the announcement, saying it was a long-pending demand of the people of the Northeastern states.