New Delhi, Feb. 25: Purno A. Sangma has finally cleared the air on his links with militants. The Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker came out strongly last night against allegations that sought to identify him closely with the banned Garo organisation.
The A?chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) had openly declared its support to the Tura MP, reportedly asking people to vote for him, and lauded his ability as a political leader. ?There is no verification of the statements issued by the ANVC. That it has asked the people to vote in my favour has not been verified either. It was first reported on the Internet by a website that does not have any authenticity,? Sangma told The Telegraph late last night.
He, however, added, ?Even if they did say so, they did it with the good intention of joining the mainstream with my help.?
The ANVC, which is active in the Garo Hills and parts of West Khasi Hills, had recently issued an appeal to the people to vote for Sangma. It had also made a case for his role as mediator in the proposed peace talks with Delhi.
This raised the hackles of the D.D. Lapang government, which accused the former Lok Sabha Speaker of having a direct nexus with the banned outfit. It had also threatened to take action against the NCP leader.
Sangma, who dismissed the threat by the Lapang government as a reaction engendered by a ?fear psychosis?, said he has never met any of the leaders but was only playing the role of a facilitator.
?I can take the entire credit of motivating the group to come to the negotiation table though I have never met them. In fact, the Congress-led coalition government should be thankful to me for the achievement as the entire Garo Hills has been severely affected by militancy,? Sangma said.
If the ANVC does decide to initiate a dialogue with the Centre, the immediate fallout could be a ceasefire that would continue for a few years before talks on the demands actually take off at the political level.
So far, four militant groups from the Northeast have signed ceasefire agreements, two each from Assam and Nagaland.
But unlike the peace process associated with other groups, attempts to make the ANVC come forward for talks have kicked up a storm as the Lapang ministry suspects a sinister motive on the part of Sangma and Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga.
Lapang had objected to the move as his government was reportedly kept in the dark on the efforts to bring peace to the troubled Garo Hills.
Subsequently, Church leaders were assigned the task of establishing contact with both groups, including the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), which are active in Meghalaya.
Continuing his efforts, Sangma has briefed deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani about the progress made in establishing contact with various outfits in the Northeast.
?Advani has agreed on the need to initiate a dialogue with these groups, including the ANVC, soon. Some positive developments are expected to follow before the polls, which could include a ceasefire,? the former Lok Sabha Speaker said.