Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma meets with Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today met with Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla in Delhi and discussed a peace proposal by the insurgent group Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council, or HNLC.
Mr Sangma after the meeting with Mr Bhalla said the HNLC has recently written to the Meghalaya government expressing their willingness to talk with the centre and the state government unconditionally. The Chief Minister has also informed the Home Ministry.
"The HNLC's proposal to start talks with the government under the parameters of the Constitution is a welcome step. They are keen to talk with the government for the interest of peace and development," Mr Sangma said.
He said positive developments are expected in the next few days.
The HNLC in a statement said it has decided to sit with the government after requests from senior citizens and organisations in the last few weeks.
The armed group said the peace initiative was disrupted after last year's alleged fake encounter of the group's former General Secretary Cherishterfield Thangkhiew.
The HNLC has claimed responsibility for low-intensity blasts in Meghalaya's capital Shillong and other places in the state in recent months.