SHILLONG: With rising reports of militancy in the Garo Hills, chief minister Mukul Sangma, who on Friday completed two years in office, said there was no 'quick fix' to settle the issue and that a multi-pronged and holistic approach has been adopted to tackle the menace.
"We need to address the root cause (of militancy)," he said adding that effective implementation of development programmes was a necessity. He said there was the need to ensure that new groups of militants do not emerge following the deactivation of a particular group. "Dislocation of this vicious cycle is an important agenda of the government," he asserted.
In an obvious reference to the recently-banned Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), which has unleashed terror in the Garo Hills, the CM spoke tough saying that the outfit was "piggy riding" on the issue of a separate state for the Garos while engaging in criminal activities.
"It is an irony that though statehood (of Meghalaya) was achieved without bloodshed, the (militants) have gone to the jungles and taken up arms," he pointed out.
Maintaining that there was nothing wrong in anybody demanding the creation of a new state, which many political parties have also done, the chief minister emphasized that democratic means must be adhered to.
"For them (militants), the demand for statehood is an afterthought," he said and iterated that alongside security operations to neutralize militant outfits, development work would continue in the state.
On his completion of two years in office, chief minister Mukul Sangma said his team had put in best efforts to bring about the necessary developments in the state. "Two years ago I was vested with the task of leading the government and this was not a casual responsibility. We have tried our best and lots of development work have been taken up in the state," Sangma who took over the reigns from DD Lapang following an internal rebellion within the ruling Congress said.
"There are lots of expectations with change of guard in government," the CM said, adding that it was important to understand the 'magnitude of rising expectations' of the people. He also stressed on the need for 'better governance'.
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