Shillong, Dec 7: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong today said that government is willing to discuss the matter with HNLC provide they stop all illegal activities in the State.
“If you want to come across the table please stop illegal activities…We have taken up the matter with the central government to let the center decide on this issue,” Tynsong said.
The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has maintained that it is looking for a political solution through peace talks. “We want to make it clear that the peace we are looking for does not mean by surrendering or for the sake to get rehabilitation package but we want a political solution to resolve the pending issues that are there since 1947,” HNLC general secretary cum publicity secretary, Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement issued on Wednesday last.
This came as a reaction to the recent appeal made by State Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui that the HNLC should show seriousness about its offer for peace talks.
Nongtraw reminded that in 2004, the outfit had written to the Centre, which has not responded. “Rev PBM Basaiawmoit was temporarily appointed as an interlocutor and the matter has been lying pending till today,” Nongtraw said.
Subsequently in 2014, the outfit had also announced a unilateral ceasefire by suspending all its operations and at the same had not called for any boycott of the Independence Day celebration.
“In 2019, we had also spoken to one of the ministers of the MDA government with the knowledge of the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma but unfortunately they cannot do anything on the matter,” Nongtraw said.
It may be mentioned that the state police recently have registered a criminal case into the alleged IED blast at Sookilo under Sutnga Elaka in East Jaintia Hills district, following the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC)’s claim.
On November end, the banned outfit had claimed responsibility for planting an IED bomb blast at Sookilo market after the Dolloi of the elaka has failed to pay heed to its warnings against illegal activities including prostitution and gambling.
