SHILLONG: Home Minister James Sangma believes that development should be the prime focus to usher in peace in the state.
While answering to queries from NEHU students on Wednesday, he said young boys and girls don’t enjoy being militants even as he said youths’ aspirations are growing by the year.“We need peace for development, people have the feeling that they are being ignored that leads to rise in violence and crime and sense of alienation. Development should be there first and then peace will follow,” Sangma said.
Another student asked him on the state’s fight against militancy where he categorically said the state government wants militants to surrender. “We are willing to have discussions with them if they lay down their arms. If they carry on with their violent activities, I think it is morally wrong on our part to call them for talks and it gives them the upper hand. We will never talk with any outfit that is still engaging in violent acts. If we reach out to them it is in one way acknowledging the beliefs they have.” he said.According to Sangma, the move of the state government of not calling them for talks but rather asking them to surrender is working as he said two senior cadres of HNLC and eight cadres of GNLA have surrendered so far.
Editor of The Shillong Times Patricia Mukhim asked the home minister on allegations of militancy and political patronage. “It would be wrong on my part to say ‘no’. It has some amount of political patronage otherwise it would not have survived all these years. But things are changing now,” Sangma said.
According to Sangma, patronage which was there from politicians is gradually coming to an end due to a social movement by those harassed by militants.
“As people reject it, politicians don’t have a choice but have to go with the flow and that is why political patronage has come down to a manageable level,” he added.
