Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday flew to New Delhi to discuss on the unconditional peace talks offered by the outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) with the Union Home Ministry.
Sangma is expected to meet Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and brief him on the HNLC’s offering an olive branch to the government.
“I will be meeting the MHA officials. I will be briefing them about the developments taking place and discuss with them on how to take this forward,” Sangma said.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has already shortlisted the names of people for appointment as an interlocutor. “Once we formally communicate and get a signal from them (MHA), we will take the next step forward,” he said.
Meghalaya BJP president Ernest Mawrie on Monday had also offered to mediate peace talks between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the banned HNLC.
HNLC General Secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw, who is believed to be hiding in Bangladesh, had said that the proscribed outfit was “ready to hold peace talk within the ambit of the Indian constitution and without any pre-conditions”. The outfit has been fighting for a sovereign homeland for the tribal Khasi population of Meghalaya.
