Budget Session of Meghalaya Assembly Commences; HNLC Ready For Unconditional Talks: Malik

Shillong: Meghalaya Governor Satya Pal Malik during his address to the Meghalaya Assembly on the first day of the Budget Session of the Meghalaya Assembly on Friday, informed the House that during the year 2021 the overall law and order situation in the State was peaceful.

Malik said that there were a few incidents of IED blasts triggered in Shillong city, where attempts were made to disturb the peace.

"However, the situation was addressed, and police acted swiftly and effectively to arrest the culprits involved," the Governor said.

He also informed the House that the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has written to the State Government expressing its willingness for unconditional talks within the framework of the Constitution of India, even as he added that this move was welcomed and a letter was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs to take this process forward.

"This is a major development towards bringing about lasting peace in the State and my Government is committed to ensure that the peace talk reaches its logical conclusion," Malik said.

The Meghalaya Governor also said that his Government is committed to resolve the long-pending border dispute between Assam and Meghalaya to usher peace and development for the citizens living in border areas.

He said that towards this goal and with a firm resolve to end this dispute, the Chief Ministers of both the States have had several meetings in the last six months wherein it was decided to first take up six of the 12 areas of difference - Tarabari, Gizang, Hahim, Boklapara, Khanapara-Pillangkata and Ratacherra.

Malik told the House that the Regional Committees headed by Cabinet Ministers have made field visits and joint inspections for these six areas with their counterpart Regional Committees from Assam.

"They also consulted with the people living in the villages, the traditional heads, district councils and all other stakeholders," the Meghalaya Governor said.

He also informed that both the Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya met the Union Home Minister on January 20, 2022 in New Delhi and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by both the Chief Ministers on January 29 in Guwahati, which has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for further examination.

"We are confident and hopeful the border issue in the six areas of difference will be resolved soon," Malik added.

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