Violence can't be a solution, we should initiate peace talks with militant outfits, says AL Hek on HNLC threat to NPP
Reiterating that "only peace can bring development in Meghalaya", former cabinet minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, AL Hek on October 19 stressed the need to initiate talks with militant outfits in order to "bring them (militant outfits) into the mainstream".
He was referring to the recent threat issued by proscribed militant outfit Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) wherein it asked the National People's Party (NPP) to shut down all of its offices in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, and also appealed to the public to not vote for the party as a mark of protest against ex-militant Cherish S. Thangkhiew’s killing on August 13.
"They (HNLC) shouldn't threaten anybody. That's why I want to bring them to the table for peace talks. Let them come to the mainstream and accordingly, we will discuss their problems and objectives. We will work together for the betterment of the citizens and the state," said Hek. "Violence cannot be a solution. Violence for violence cannot be a solution,” he stressed.
Citing lack of employment as one of the major contributing factors towards the rise of militancy, Hek said that currently, employment in the government sector is "completely saturated" and the government have to be "creative" to create employment opportunities in order to stop the youth from taking up arms.
He, however, said that the BJP can't do much in this regard as “we (BJP) have no direct role in leading the government in the state". He added that BJP never had its government in Meghalaya and with only two ministers in the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) cabinet, "if the MDA government fails, we are also equally responsible."
Nevertheless, the BJP MLA assured the public that he will take up the issue of fuel price rise with the Centre in the next National Executive Committee meeting to be held in Delhi on November 7. "As a member of the party's executive committee, I'm going to take up the issue with the NDA government in the Centre. We cannot make people suffer just because we are in the ruling," said Hek, stressing that the hike in fuel prices is an important issue as poor people and farmers in the state are getting badly hit because of it.
He also informed that after becoming a member of the BJP's National Executive Committee, his immediate priority will be to bring various Centre’s developmental schemes to the state for the benefit of the people.
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