‘Lack of trust evident in peace talks with HNLC’

SHILLONG, Dec 1: Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Sangma on Thursday expressed concerns over the manner in which the state government is handling the peace talks with the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC). He asked if the state government has failed to take the Centre on board.
“The lack of trust is the very recipe for future problems of similar nature. Therefore, the government has to be serious,” he cautioned.
Referring to the summons sent to four members of the HNLC by the National Investigation Agency, he insisted that the government must come clean on the terms and conditions agreed upon before going ahead with the peace process. He said such things will create suspicions, doubt and the lack of trust. He said the state government must take up the matter with the Centre.
“When we want to engage with any proscribed organisation or banned terrorist group, Government of India’s nod is required as the state government alone cannot decide,” he said.
He asked, “Have they not taken the Government of India on board pertaining to these minute details which can be a factor to create the kind of dislocation which we are apprehensive of given the kind of situation we are seeing?”