Guwahati: Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad Sangma met with Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Wednesday to discuss the topic of peace talks with the proscribed militant group Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
Sharing the news on Twitter, Sangma wrote, “Following the required process to take forward the peace talks with HNLC, met the Home Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs to discuss the same. The Government of Meghalaya is committed to see this through.”
Following the required process to take forward the peace talks with HNLC, met the Home Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs to discuss the same. The Government of Meghalaya is committed to see this through.@AmitShah @HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/OvNo1PLTW7
— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) February 16, 2022
The decision comes only days after the HNLC volunteered to meet with the Central and Meghalaya state governments for peace talks without any restrictions. The outlawed militant announced the news in a press statement.
HNLC general secretary-cum-publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement on February 8 that the organisation has decided to give peace a chance after receiving numerous petitions from elders and social organisations over the previous few days.
“After consultations with some elders recently, we have decided to come to a peaceful agreement with the GOM (Government of Meghalaya) and the GOI (Government of India),” the militant group had said, adding, “As of now we are ready to talk within the ambit of the Indian constitution and we are ready to have talks without any pre-conditions.”
It however did not mention giving up weaponry or engaging in armed attacks.
It claimed that the peace process had been interrupted by the assassination or ‘false encounter’ of the militant’s former GS (L) Cherishterfield Thangkhiew last year.
The militant group had earlier said unequivocally that any negotiations must include the subjects of the Standstill Agreement and Instrument of Accession and Annexation, which brought the former Khasi republics into the Indian Union after independence in 1947.
The HNLC also demanded that the government select an official interlocutor to demonstrate its commitment to peace.