SHILLONG, March 25: At a time when the state government has asserted that the proposed peace talks between government-appointed interlocutor, Peter S Dkhar and the HNLC should begin at the earliest, there is no clarity on whether the outfit would first lay down arms before sitting for talks.
When this issue was raised with Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, he said that talks have to be held first and the interlocutor’s duty is to sit with them.
“Then we leave it to his wisdom since he has been entrusted with the responsibility. It is his duty to carry forward the wishes of the Centre, the state government and the HNLC,” Tynsong said.
He declined to comment on a possible ceasefire with the outfit and said it would be too early for him to say anything until the first meeting is held.
Tynsong recalled that the HNLC, in its letter to the government, had said that they want to hold unconditional talks within the parameter of the Constitution of India.
