Shillong, Oct 12: Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday refused to comment on the ongoing peace talks with the banned militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).

Rymbui told reporters that he is not ready to comment on anything until a concrete decision or resolution has been arrived at.

He was responding to a query on whether the HNLC has put forth its agenda for the peace talks.

“I am not the one who will comment on the nitty-gritty of the talk. If we dictate the talks from here, it is not good, so on anything (whether) we have to give… the talk (will)… go on as per plan and I should not make unnecessary comments,” Rymbui said.

Asserting the need to give the peace talks a chance, the Home Minister also denied that there was a stalemate and said, “let us hope that it proceeds as per plan”.

On August 5, five leaders of the HNLC had visited the state to discuss the ongoing tripartite peace talks between the Government of India, Government of Meghalaya and the outfit. This was possible after the government had agreed to grant a safe passage to the outfit leaders. However, the five leaders had recently returned to Bangladesh.

Asked as to when the formal talks will take place, Rymbui said that preliminary talks have taken place with the outfit. “It is not a question of coming and going back to Bangladesh; it is a question that the talks have started but they have to hold meetings between themselves,” he said.