SHILLONG, May 17: The tripartite talks with the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) will formally begin in the first week of June.
“We have informed the cabinet and we would like to inform you that the deputy CM held an informal meeting with the HNLC political secretary, vice-chairman, executive member, and interlocutor yesterday and it was decided that the talks will start in the first week of June,” Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
Without going into the details of the discussions, he said: “The discussions are taking place with the interlocutor. They have raised certain points and we will try to ensure they feel comfortable and safe from all angles.”
But issues that are beyond the jurisdiction of the state government would have to be at the level of the Centre, he added. “We are hopeful we will be able to come to a positive solution after the formal talks start,” Sangma said.
