Govt waiting on response from HNLC leadership

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 14: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said the government is waiting for the response from leaders of the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) before deciding on how to move forward with the ongoing peace talks.

“We are waiting for (HNLC’s) response. As and when we are able to get that response we will decide on how to move forward,” Sangma told reporters.

“As I said in talks like these we need to ensure there is movement from all the sections. All the stakeholders need to have a certain level of commitment to the whole discussion. Therefore, as we move forward in discussion mode there are certain areas of concern, some from their side and some from our side and we are all working on that,” he said.

“We have communicated to all of them through our interlocutor and we are waiting for a response from their side,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that the NIA case against HNLC leaders is an old case.

“It is an ongoing process and it is not from the State side, it is from the Centre side and we have already passed on the information to them and that is why I am saying as the talks go forward different areas and different conditions and different talks can be held with the stakeholders from the Central government, from State government and from their side and we will figure out how to move forward,” he said.

“But as I said it is a process and since multiple stakeholders are involved we need to clarify from every side so this will go on,” Sangma said while stating that “yes it is a concern and we have raised it with Delhi also.”