Shillong, July 28: The banned HNLC has criticised the police for summoning NGO leaders for questioning on the issues relating to the outfit.
In a statement on Friday, HNLC general secretary cum publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said, “When Champion Sangma, a former DSP, and some police personnel deserted the police department to join the GNLA, we observed that neither the government nor the police department summoned other police officers. Is it wise for the police department to summon the president of a particular organization when some members of certain pressure groups joined the HNLC on their own free will?”
“Yes, there may be members in pressure groups, who have connections with us, but it does not imply that the entire organisation, its president, or general secretary is involved”, he said, adding that as an organisation, it will not lie if someone is an active member, whether they belong to a pressure group or are acting individually.”
Earlier, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma ruled out blanket amnesty to HNLC leaders who are willing to take part in negotiation process.
According to the chief minister, minor issues can always be resolved but it is not possible to give ‘blanket amnesty’ to the group.
He said the state government is taking up with the Centre regarding the demands of the HNLC.
“We are speaking with the government of India also and we have made it very clear as to what level we can go to and this has been communicated to the HNLC and members multiple times and this has been communicated through the government of India as well as state government. So there are certain procedures that are followed in all talks that the government of India is involved in and hence, we are following the same protocol and the same process is being followed,” he said.
