SHILLONG, MAR 9: Meghalaya Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi said the state government is committed to have a dialogue with the militant outfits provided they eschew anti-national activities.
Addressing the opening day of the budget session on Monday, Tripathi said, “The commitment of the government to have a dialogue with militant outfit remains provided they give up their anti-nationals stance and abjure violence.”
Tripathi, however, was of the opinion that despite positive intention shown by the state government, the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) continues to indulge in criminal activities and Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) continues to calling boycott on national days.
Stating the state is confronted with many challenges on internal security, Tripathi said that the government is determined to overcome these challenges and thwart the attempts of misguided elements to cause disturbance and disorder adding that a multi pronged strategy has been adopted.
“With those groups which have entered into dialogue with the government, peace settlements have been reached and for those inclined to have talks, the government has designated interlocutors for negotiation,” Tripathi said while informing that a memorandum of settlement was signed with the ANVC and ANVC (B) on September last year, in New Delhi.
Asserting that earnest efforts are now on to implement the terms of the settlement, Tripathi said, “The central government had advised us to defer the elections to the GHADC so that the requisite amendment to the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution could be carried out during the budget session of the Parliament.”
According to Tripathi, this also reflects the intent of the central government to see the full and expeditious implementation of the accord and the state government has been pursuing this regularly with the centre.
Tripathi further stated the state government reiterates its firm resolve to tackle such activities by those elements that continue their nefarious anti-national and criminal activities ‘with the full might of the state’.
Informing that investment have been made heavily to upgrade the security infrastructure, Tripathi informed that a new battalion of specially trained and equipped commando force is also being raised.
Tripathi, however, remarked that the despite the various challenges, the law and order situation has by and large remained stable adding all communities observed their festivals in an atmosphere of gaiety and amity and also participated with great enthusiasm in the celebrations of national days.
Tripathi noted that on many occasions, people of Meghalaya have defied and even resisted the calls given by militant outfits for boycott and bandhs. “I would like to commend the people of Meghalaya for their abiding commitment to the values of peace and harmony,” Tripathi concluded.- By Our Reporter
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