Newmai News Network
SHILLONG, Jan 14
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]eghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today categorically denied of having link with any militant outfits operating in the Garo Hills region of the state.
“Dr Mukul is one among the very few politicians who do not keep any link with militant outfit. It is known to everybody it is known to the people, it is known to the Government of India and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA),” Sangma told reporters at a news conference held here on Tuesday.It may be mentioned here, the political secretary of the breakaway faction of the A’chik National Volunteer Council (ANVC-B) Ajaju R Marak had recently made sensational allegations against Sangma claiming that the latter used them to secure his seat of power.
“The allegation posted by the political secretary of ANVC.B is malicious, distasteful and the subsequent developments are demonstrative of deep rooted conspiracy to malign the image of the chief minister and to create confusion in the minds of the people,” he refuted.
According to him, the fact that the ANVC.B had, the following day, refuted the allegation besides informing that after posting this malicious, baseless allegation their political secretary had deserted the organization indicate that he had pre-determined and malafide intention to malign the image of the chief minister.
“It is also indicate that some vested interests who have hatched political conspiracy have penetrated the ANVC.B to further their political plot and conspiracy against the CM and my government,” Sangma stated adding “The way the letter is scripted in English and the political interpretation within the letter tells more that what meets the eye.”
Stating that number of times when the issue of political-militant nexus have been raised, he reiterated, “I have maintained that we cannot rule out this but in absence of any evidence to substantiate, we can’t legally, proceed with any such allegation.”
He added, “The decision of the government to extend the term of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) to enable the completion of peace process is demonstration of our commitment and strong political will.”
“It is an important period for the people of the state in general and Garo Hills in particular for persuing the objective of bringing sustained peace for progress and growth of the state as a whole by completing the peace process,” he stated.
Earlier, the United Democratic Party (UDP) had demanded for immediate probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the political-militant nexus and had said that they would also seek an audience with the President and Prime Minister of India on the matter.
On being asked, the chief minister said, “I have seen that they (UDP) want to lead a delegation to president and prime minister and they will have better information. The prime minister and MHA will have better information as they have their own mechanism as to which politician have nexus with militant.”
“I would advise them (UDP) not to waste their time.” he stated.
Asked whether the ANVC.B is part of signed peace pact or not, he said, ”We have taken a stand that for all interpretation thereof will only consider them as part of ANVC and not ANVC .B for technical reasons for ensuring we don’t further need to initiate a new peace pact and spend more time as there will be no ending.”
He said that in our discussion with government of India we say that if we want to achieve the kind of peace we are talking about on a sustainable basis what will happen to all the deserters who have gone out and floated and in the process seen number of mushrooming of organizations who have been engaged in criminal activities vitiating the environment so what will happen to them.
“If you have to initiate from the beginning separately for each one of them then there will be no end logically and practically. Therefore, it should be incumbent upon the government to have a policy which is practically therefore allow ANVC to ensure that the breakaway groups the deserters also are put within the same umbrella,” he said adding “ So on the basis of that the interlocutor was task with the leadership of the ANVC.B which came in 2011, and interlocutor was task that he should convey the intent government in the right perspective so that they will know he will sign on behalf of the deserter groups but within the banner of ANVC.”
What about the GNLA, he said, “The approach of the government has to be uniform. On number of occasion the government has maintain that we would like to ensure that the kind of dailouge that we often talk whenever we address from various platforms that all issues before us can be settle within the frame work of our constitution. The kind of democracy we have, we have robust mechanism to address all issues across the table in a peaceful manner without having to take up arms and resort to violence activities to achieve redressal of any issues or grievances and maintain that they should give up all their arms and criminal activities.”
