SHILLONG, AUG 21: Union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju on Friday reiterated that laying down of arms is ‘prerequisite’ requirement for any kind of future negotiation with militant groups even as he praised Meghalaya for successfully containing insurgency.
“We will definitely welcome them if they (militants) surrender since laying down the arms is the prerequisite requirement for any kind of future negotiation,” Rijiju told newsmen.
Stating the centre and home ministry had already laid down a particular road map, he said, “We are open to embrace back all those people who have deviated from mainstream and those who have taken up arms.”
“We also make an appeal, if those people wanted to come back to mainstream the first and foremost things they have to do, is to lay down arms,” he said.
He added militants have to abjure violence first because while the violence is going on talks cannot go parallel so laying down arms is the centre’s criteria to those who wants come mainstream must lay down the arms first then the centre will be ready to embrace them.
He further maintained that petty criminal acts, with few people coming together and forming a group to engage themselves in ransoms, kidnapping, bulling people around, this will not be ‘tolerated’. “We have stated that we are not going to talk to anybody who is indulging in any kinds of violence,” he reiterated.
Meanwhile, Rijiju said that of late the Meghalaya government and its state police have been successful in term of operation to contain the militancy especially in the Garo hills region of the state.
“For that matter I appreciated the Meghalaya government, they have shown their sincerity especially in the last one year,” he said.
Expressing support to the Meghalaya government, he said that though situation have improved but there are issues that remains to be resolved and the centre will provide all assistance to the state government.- By Our Reporter
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