Haldar says govt should take a call on whether to continue truce with ANVC

Shillong, Nov 20:  Central interlocutor former IB chief PC Haldar said the Meghalaya government has to decide whether the truce with the ANVC is now relevant and if its breakaway faction- the ANVC (B)- should also  be brought onboard for lasting peace in Garo hills districts of Meghalaya.

Haldar, who is in Shillong to attend the two days meeting of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) of which he is also member, said that his mandate as the interlocutor of the ANVC is to hold dialogue and contribute to the peace process. Haldar is the interlocutor for the pro-talk ULFA faction and the ANVC.

According to Haldar he has been appointed by the union government as an interlocutor and felt that the decision whether on not to continue with the truce with the ANVC or bring the ANVC(B) faction on board for talk is a decision the state government will have to make. He told reporters at the sideline of the NSAB meeting Tuesday, “My job is to move forward after the government takes a call on this particular issue.”

Informing about the progress of talks with the pro-talk faction of the ULFA, Haldar said that the dialogues with the group have been going on smoothly. He said that sometimes the group holds talk with the union government in Delhi. He said the talks with the ULFA are heading in the positive direction even as he appealed to the anti-talk faction to come forward and discuss their grievance across the table.

Earlier NSAB chairman Naresh Chandra informed majority of the civil society members who attended Tuesday’s meeting felt that the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) is “counterproductive” as there were people who felt that it should either be amended or repealed. He, however, said, “We are just an advisory body so we will carry the views of the people to the central government, it is upto them to take the final call.”- By Our Reporter