'Government adopted a multi-pronged strategy'

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, March 9: Meghalaya Governor Keshari th Tripathi today said that the state government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to overcome challenges of interl security, peace and order.

“The government is determined to overcome these challenges and thwart the attempts of misguided elements to cause disturbance and disorder,” Tripathi said in his maiden address to the Meghalaya Assembly on the first day of the budget session today.

The Governor said that the state government has reached peace settlements with those groups which have entered into dialogue with it. For those inclined to have talks, the government has desigted interlocutors for negotiations and for those elements that continue with their nefarious anti-tiol and crimil activities, the government reiterates its firm resolve to tackle such activities with the full might of the state.

“The government has invested heavily in upgrading the security infrastructure and a new battalion of specially trained and equipped commando force is also being raised,” Tripathi said.

The Governor also observed that despite various challenges the law and order situation has remained stable.

Tripathi also stated that on many occasions the people of the state have defied and even resisted the calls given by militant outfits for boycott and bandhs.

The Governor also said that after prolonged negotiations a memorandum of settlement (MoS) was signed with the ANVC and the ANVC (B) on September 24 at New Delhi and subsequently disbanded.

“Earnest effort are now on to implement the terms of settlement. The central government has advised us to defer the election to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council so that the requisite amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution could be carried out during the budget session of the Parliament,” the Governor said.

According to Tripathi, the efforts to implement the terms of settlement by amendment the Sixth Schedule is reflective of the intent of the centre  to see the full and expeditious implementation of the accord.

The Governor, however, expressed concern over the activities of the GNLA in Garo Hills and HNLC in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region.

He said that in spite of the positive intent shown by the government these two outfits have been indulging in anti-tiol and crimil activities.

“HNLC continues to give calls for boycott on tiol days. However, the commitment of the government to have dialogue with the militant outfit remains provided they give up their anti-tiol stance and abjure violence,” Tripathi said.

Meanwhile, on the inter-state border issue with Assam the Governor said that it has remained largely peaceful.

“A robust system of interactions at regular intervals between the district level officials of the two states has been put in place to address occasiol stray incidents. The efforts to find a lasting solution to this festering problem through negotiations will continue earnestly, the Governor said.

Further on the issue on Indo-Bangladesh border Tripathi said that the state government has been urging upon the centre to ratify the protocol signed with Bangladesh so that people on both sides are able to derive the potential socio-economic benefits that a well defines and settled border offers.

“Operationlisation of two border haats at Kalaichar and Balat has not only created economic opportunities but has also strengthened social bonding among people along the border,” Tripathi said.