Ready for talks under precribed MHA norms: Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma to HNLC

While the stalemate in talks between the Meghalaya government and the proscribed HNLC continues, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has reiterated that terms and conditions cannot change for one organization.

This he said in reference to the HNLC’s decision of not joining the peace process until the government withdraws all cases against its cadres and amnesty is granted.

However, the Meghalaya Chief Minister has once again reached out to the HNLC and urged the group to come to the negotiating table and resolve issues once and for all.

Speaking to newspersons in Shillong, Chief Minister Sangma said, “I reiterate that we are open and we would ask them to reconsider their stand, we also want long term peace. And so I reiterate that they should come to the talks again.

I have maintained again and again that there are certain provisions and guidelines which the MHA has prescribed, which is being followed for all organisations with which the GoI is in talks with. So it will be followed on the basis of those guidelines, we cannot deviate from that because that is what has been prescribed for all the talks. Hence if they start to change it for one or two organisations then they will have to change it for all. So within the prescribed norms of the MHA we are ready to talk.”

Regarding the withdrawal of cases CM Sangma said that it depends on case to case basis which had happened in the past also.

The CM said, “Case to case basis the decisions have been made. That has been done in the past also. But as I said whether it will be done in the future or not it will depend on case to case basis. But if we do not start the process, then we will not reach upto that point.”

On February 1, the Meghalaya Chief Minister maintained that same conditions has been applied in case of the HNLC, just as it has been done in case of other rebel groups.

Regarding the witdrawal of cases against HNLC leaders and cadres, the Chief Minister had said that various aspects pertaining to withdrawal of cases are under discussion but since some of them are heinous in nature, those needs to be handled separately.

Obviously, that cannot be considered as a blanket order allowing for withdrawal of all cases, CM Sangma had affirmed.