SHILLONG, May 21 ? Meghalaya government today rejected NCP general secretary PA Sangma?s claim of being a facilitator of talks between the Centre and insurgents, saying that the Centre did not authorise anyone to facilitate talks, between some insurgent groups of the state and New Delhi, reports PTI.
?We have received a letter from Union Home Secretary N Gopalswamy saying the government of India has authorised nobody to negotiate with militants of Meghalaya,? state?s home minister R G Lyngdoh told a press conference here.
Sangma, a Lok Sabha member from Meghalaya?s Garo Hills region and former Lok Sabha Speaker, yesterday claimed that he was doing his bit as a facilitator of talks between some insurgent groups of the state and the Union government ?with the full knowledge? of the Centre. Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang had requested Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on May 12 to inform him if the Centre had authorised anyone like Sangma, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramathanga or former state minister Adolph Hitler Marak to facilitate talks with insurgent groups of the state as reported in a section of the media, he said.
Gopalswamy?s letter of May 14, which came in response to Lapang?s request, was received by the state government here on May 19, Lyngdoh said showing it to the press. Lyngdoh said he did not wish to engage in ?mud-slinging? with the former Lok Sabha speaker but made it clear that the state government also did not appoint anyone to negotiate talks with militant outfits because the atmosphere was not conducive for dialogue at present. The state government wanted the militants to take the first step by stopping all unlawful activities for creating a situation for talks, Lyngdoh said.