Deputy CM asks HNLC to shun path of violence, says let Centre decide on peace talks

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 7, 2020

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the state government has taken up with the Centre for peace talks with the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) even as he asked the latter to shun the path of violence.

“We have already taken up with the central government and (now) let the central government decide on this issue at the earliest possible,” Tynsong told reporters on Monday.

He said that the government has also time and again asked the outfit to shun the path of violence.

“We keep telling them (HNLC) if you want to come across the table, please stop all illegal activities,” Tynsong said.

His statement also came after the HNLC has recently claimed responsibility for planting the IED explosion at Sookilo under Sutnga Elaka in East Jaintia Hills district and the subsequent seizure of huge cache of explosives from the same area.

The deputy chief minister also maintained that the state government is very firm on the need to root out all illegal activities in the state. According to him, if talked about illegal mining and transportation or IEDs, all these are illegal.

“Therefore, the government is very firm on its stand that any illegal activities, we will seriously deal on that,” he said.

Asked, Tynsong said that the act is in place and that those authorized dealers issued by the government, have to give their accounts quarterly. Even experts from the department concerned are conducting regular inspection and the book of account has to be approved every three months, he stated.