Centre willing to hold talks with HNLC, Agarwal

Shillong, Sep 27 (UNI) Despite the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council losing its ground, Additional Home Secretary in-charge Justice Rajeev Agarwal said the Centre was still willing to negotiate with the Khasi-Jaintia hills-based militant outfit of Meghalaya.

Mr Agarwal's statement assumed significance in the backdrop of the recent surrender of 12 HNLC cadres to the BSF at Kaliashahar in Tripura.

At least 435 HNLC cadres were killed, surrendered or arrested so far.

''We are ready to hold talks with any militant outfit irrespective of their strength, '' Mr Agarwal told UNI here yesterday and said the HNLC had expressed its willingness to hold talks with the Centre.

The HNLC had formally written to the Home Ministry to begin the peace talks with the banned outfit.

Soon after the HNLC expressed willingness, the Union Home Ministry set six points of condition for talks which included that the militant outfit should be willing to hold talks within the purview of the Constitution before signing a ceasefire agreement; there should be cessation of armed hostilities between the two sides and the state government should be part of the peace process; ceasefire agreement should be signed by both parties but it should be a bi-partite agreement; the Government will extend safe passage to the HNLC leaders who would be involved in a dialogue and both parties should keep everything under the wraps till a formal ceasefire agreement is signed.

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