Shillong, Feb 5: Union Law & Justice Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said majority of the misguided youth have surrendered and come back to mainstream ever since Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister.

Speaking on the issue of insurgency in the North East region, he said, “I was also Minister of State for Home Affairs for five years in the previous term so I know and have dealt with the matter very closely and most of the splinter groups and misguided youths have come back. we are happy and hopeful that the few remaining will also come back.”

At the same time, he stressed that development is very difficult without peace, hence it is important to bring misguided youth back to mainstream to ensure peace and development go hand in hand.

He also added that efforts are on to bring back the few that are yet to join mainstream.

When asked if the Centre should invite the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) for peace talks in view of the frequent IED attacks, the union minister said that the central government is always there to help and assist the state government to ensure the law and order situation in the state remains very much under control.

But when it comes to larger issue like terrorism and militancy then there has to be a close coordination of sharing of intelligence and other things including the political understanding, he said while asserting that if there are some issues which are due to lack of coordination then that should be overcome.

Stating that the Meghalaya government and central government are working in close coordination, Rijiju said, “I think this issue will be resolved.”