Conrad meets Guv, CM offers to help state

SHILLONG, MAY 26: Newly elected Tura Lok Sabha MP Conrad Kongal Sangma on Thursday volunteered to play the role

of a  “coordinator” between the centre and the state government to resolve the prevailing law & order situation in Garo hills.

In his first visit to the state after being elected to the Lok Sabha, Conrad met governor V Shanmuganathan, chief minister Mukul Sangma and health minister AL Hek besides the chief secretary KS Kropha at the state secretariat.

Conrad, however, could not meet other ministers as most of them were not in their chambers. He also met the UDP and HSPDP leaders as they had supported him during the bye-elections.

Conrad told reporters, “If there are any areas that the state needs help I am willing to extend my cooperation to them,”

“I will do my best and play the role of a coordinator to ensure proper coordination between the centre and state governments because the issue of law & order) is closed to my heart,” Sangma told reporters.

The NPP national president also suggested the state government adopt the Bodo or Nagaland model of accommodating the surrendered cadres into the police organization.

He was referring to the recent coming of overground of many militants of different outfits including GNLA operating in the five districts of the Garo hills region.

“It is important for the state government to ensure they (surrendered cadres) are properly rehabilitated and accommodated. I urged the government to look into the model in Bodo or Nagaland where they are accommodated in police force,” Sangma said.

The MP also said that what worries him is the state government is not responding in a positive manner to this issue.-By Our Reporter  

According to him, in the case of ANVC – ANVC.B which two years have lapsed since the signing of the peace pact, yet there is no sign of rehabilitation – leaving its cadres frustrated.

“If government is not accommodating them, I fear that the situation is going to go back to square one and there will be lesser chance for peace,” he stated adding “It is a question of trust they want assurance that they will be rehabilitation and are kept safe.”

He further stated that the surrendering of many cadres is the concerted efforts made by all and nobody can take a single credit out of it.

Admitting the government has played its role, Sangma said, “We also thanked the effort of the church and NGO leaders who played an instrumental role on this.”

Stating that his party is for dialogue, the young parliamentarian said, “Militancy is not the problem but it is the effect and outcome of the problem.”