Shillong, July 2: The Meghalaya government is ready to engage in talks with the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), said Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong today.
Tynsong, who is in charge of the Home Department, emphasized that the door for dialogue remains open, and the government is prepared to discuss with the HNLC if they are willing to come forward.
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“The door is open from our side. It is up to them. It is up to them to decide. If they want to contact us, we are ready,” he told reporters today. The statement comes in the wake of two HNLC cadres surrendering recently.
Tynsong said their decision to surrender was due to realizing that their career in the outfit was going nowhere. He appealed to other HNLC members to follow suit, highlighting the benefits of rejoining the mainstream.
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“I appeal to other members also to kindly follow the footsteps of the two persons who recently surrendered before the police.”
Regarding the HNLC’s threat against a pharmacy owner, Tynsong assured that the government would protect citizens and ensure that the law prevails.
“Nobody can take the law into their own hands. Let the law prevail. Whether HNLC or anybody who just gives that kind of threat, the government is there to protect them,” he said, adding that the authorities are alert to such threats.
(Newmai News Network)