NIA’s action will not hamper peace talks with HNLC: Meghalaya CM

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaDecember 2, 2022

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said the summons issued by National Investigation Agency (NIA) against HNLC leaders has no direct connection with the ongoing peace talks.

Speaking to reporters, Conrad Sangma said, “That (summon) is a very different process. Those are investigations at a different level. That has no direct connection with the talks that we are having and in order to be able to ensure that complications like these don’t come up that is precisely the purpose of the official talks.”

He said, “Yes, I understand the members involved are the ones who have been called but as I said discussion and the peace talks are meant to figure out a way so that these kinds of complications can be resolved but it will not affect the peace talks.”

Leader of opposition Mukul Sangma had questioned if the state government has taken the Centre on board on the peace talks. Reacting to this, the chief minister said that the previous government did not take steps to move forward with the peace talks with the HNLC, which they could have done.

“But nonetheless this government has now moved ahead and obviously these talks cannot take place without the deep discussion with the Central government. I have mentioned it many times before that on 3-4 occasions I have had discussions with the home minister and on multiple occasions maybe 8-9 times, I have had discussions with the home secretary and obviously very senior officials of the home department are regularly in touch and are coordinating the entire process.