Although the talks between the government and the outlawed Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) appear to be in difficulties, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is happy to leave the subject to the government.
Speaking to reporters today, party spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang said, “If it (talks) can bring peace to the state, then why not.”
Kharkrang is a former police officer who had his share of run-ins with the HNLC when militancy was at its height.
“We are not privy to all that the government is intending to do. Here even the courts are involved, for that matter, so I really don’t know how the government will handle this and I think it is better to let us leave it to the government,” he said.
He declined to comment when asked if the government should consider offering amnesty to the outfit’s members. The HNLC leadership has been demanding an amnesty to take the peace process forward. Although it is involved in peace talks, several court cases have been moving forward against its senior members for past crimes.
