Talks with militants: HNYF slams Mukul for 'partiality'

FROM A REPORTER

SHILLONG, June 7: The Hynniewtrep tiol Youth Front (HNYF) has slammed Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for alleged partiality in holding peace talks with the rebel groups of the State.

The HNYF general secretary Sadon K Blah in a statement on Tuesday said that the Chief Minister is serous with the talk- process with Garo militants but he is not interested to hold talks with Hynniewtrep tiol Liberation Council (HNLC).

“In the past few months the Government of Meghalaya under the leadership of Mukul Sangma has signed many peace pacts with the various militant outfits from Garo hills like ANVC (A), ANVC (B), and LAEF. The government is also planning to hold talks with the UALA on June 9,” he said.

According to him, the only reason for the failure of the state government to hold talks with the GNLA is because of one condition given by the outfit that is the release of its jailed Chairman Champion Sangma.

Reacting to the comment made by Chief Minister that no militant groups would be invited for talk unless they renounce violence, he said, “This condition is not applied to the militant outfits from Garo hills but it’s a norm for the militant outfit HNLC.”

He added, “We feel that this is the right time for the Chief Minister to invite the HNLC for talks, so that, this last remaining shadow of militancy and potential violence in the land of the Hynniewtrep is over.”

On the allegation of the Chief Minister that there are politicians who are having nexus with the HNLC, he said that is up to the Chief Minister to probe.

The HNYF also appealed to the State government to reconsider the decision on peace-talks with HNLC.