Shillong: Prestone Tynsong, the Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya in charge of Home (Police), reiterated the Government of India’s willingness to engage in dialogue with the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).
During an interaction with reporters on Tuesday, Tynsong conveyed the state government’s continued invitation to the HNLC to recommence peace talks, urging the outfit to reconsider their stance.
He emphasised the importance of maturity and forward-thinking in order to pave the way for a peaceful future.
Addressing recent social media activity from the HNLC, Tynsong labeled it as mere theatrics. He clarified the government’s position, offering assurances of safe passage and flexibility regarding the location of discussions, even beyond Meghalaya’s borders.
However, he cautioned against misconstruing informal invitations as official communications, emphasizing that it is the Government of India and the state government extending the invitation to dialogue, not himself personally.
Tynsong confirmed the absence of any official response from the HNLC regarding the government’s request to resume talks. Despite this, he reiterated the government’s commitment to keeping the door open for dialogue and urged the HNLC to reconsider their decision.
“In the absence of any communication from their end, we can only reiterate our stance and hope for constructive engagement,” Tynsong concluded, underscoring the importance of continued efforts towards achieving lasting peace in the region.