Meghalaya BJP urges HNLC not to ditch peace talks

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Jan 4: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today appealed to the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) to reconsider its decision to withdraw from the tripartite peace talks with the Centre and State government for lasting peace to prevail in the state of Meghalaya.

Addressing the media, BJP national vice president and Meghalaya in charge Dr Chuba Ao said, “We appeal to our militant organization to come forward and join the mainstream and attain peace.”

Party state president Rikman G Momin said, “We need peace so we will request HNLC to come forward to have peace talks with the State or Central government directly.”

He however refused to comment on whether amnesty should be given to the leaders and cadres of the banned Khasi outfit.

Chief spokesperson and former IPS officer M Kharkrang said the party is surprised at the HNLC’s sudden decision to withdraw itself from the peace talks with the government. According to him, it is not possible for the government at one stroke of a pen to drop all cases against the leaders and cadres of the outfit.

“If you have seen the statement the main agenda of the HNLC is to drop all cases against the leaders and cadres of the outfit. I feel they should have waited as it is not easy for the government to just drop these cases especially if cases have been charge-sheeted and are being tried in the courts as once cases are being charge-sheeted, it totally depends on the court. To say that the government at one stroke of a pen to drop all cases is not possible,” he said.

“At the same time, we also have to think about those victims of such cases, they may be your families or relatives, now if the government just to appease one side, drops all cases, what justice will you give to the victims of criminal cases,” he added.

Kharkhrang said it was a hasty decision on the part of the HNLC to withdraw from the peace talks adding “They should have given the peace talks a chance.”

The former IPS officer said, “We are appealing to the HNLC to continue with the peace process and in a given situation, it is a give and take, you cannot make demands and expect all the demands to be met by the government. You have to look at the larger picture, not that just because one issue has not been settled it doesn’t mean you pull yourself out of the peace talks.”

On the HNLC’s apprehension that its top leaders will get arrested once they come overground, Kharkrang however said that the outfit has to believe the government because a safe passage is a safe passage

“If the government has agreed to give them a safe passage, you see the government doesn’t work like that, once they have given in writing that they are giving them a safe passage it is a safe passage so I don’t think so there is any trust deficit in that, the government cannot fool people like that so they have to believe the government,” he said.

Referring to the recent death threat issued by HNLC to Sohra legislator Gavin M Mylliem over the downfall of the MCCL, Kharkrang said, “Personally, I would say that it was uncalled for. You cannot for the ills which have taken place on the company for the last 30-40 years, now you cannot put the blame solely on the sitting MLA. I think it was uncalled for.”

Meghalaya BJP targeting 400 seats in LS polls

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Jan 4: BJP national vice president and Meghalaya Incharge Dr M Chuba Ao today said the party’s target is to get 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

After chairing a meeting to review the election preparation of the party in Meghalaya, Ao said, “Our target is to get 400 seats this time. Therefore, we will have to go everywhere where we did not get (last time), we will try our level best to reach them.”

Stating that the party’s progress report is very encouraging, he said, “We believe we will achieve it and it is our mission today.”

Ao said there are some weak seats and some seats are regional centric but the party will try to improve (its performance in such seats).

“Last two elections we have seen it was not so much fruitful but this time we are going to do in such a way that people will understand what is going on at the national level, how they give us facilities and all these things so we will reach to the grassroot level this time,” he added.

The BJP leader said that the party will fight the LS polls on its own adding “We are not going to compromise with any other political parties. We will build up our strength, why should we give a chance to others. Therefore, we have decided to fight on our own. There will be no seat sharing basis.”

Ao said that the BJP is quite strong in both Shillong and Tura parliament seats in Meghalaya.

“Actually both are strong seats, only we could not channelize. We are also taking the responsibility that we could not reach the grassroots level,” he said.

Whether the party has decided on the candidates for the two seats, the Meghalaya charge said, “We will work first and after that, this matter will be discussed with the state team and it will go to the national team then we will sit together with the prime minister and home minister together then we will allot the ticket.”

He said that many people have approached the party for tickets but one has to be acceptable by the people.

On the party to field its Pynthorumkhrah legislator and cabinet minister AL Hek from Shillong constituency, Ao said, “I have seen in the media but I have not interacted with him so what is his opinion as we have to take the opinion and consideration of all the candidates as we cannot simply write in the paper, we need to interact one to one.”

He however maintained that the party will select candidates from among the members of the party.

“Women reservation is our agenda. We will see because the name is a reservation for women candidates but if women are not accepted by their own constituency the problem will come because we are fighting to win that is why we have to select for the best,” he added.