Guwahati: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the state government has formally invited the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) for talks on its five-point agenda, with a response expected by Monday evening or Tuesday.
Sangma said the government was prepared to take up all five demands raised by the student body and explain its position on issues requiring further clarification. He said action had already been initiated on most of the matters, but inadequate communication between the two sides had contributed to misunderstandings.
On the arrest of KSU leaders and the use of the Meghalaya Maintenance of Public Order Act (MMPO) and Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act (MPDA) against them, Sangma said the matter would be dealt with according to law.
He said the government could not alter or bypass legal procedures in response to pressure from any organisation or individual. The cases would follow due process, he added.
Sangma also spoke about the investigation into the violence reported on August 19. He said five masked individuals involved in the rioting had been identified and action had been taken against them. Further action against others found to have participated in the violence would continue, he added.
The Chief Minister said the government would also tighten the conditions attached to permissions for rallies and processions. Security personnel had been deployed along the route of the motorcycle rally, he said, but the administration faced difficulties when incidents began occurring at several locations.
Sangma rejected the claim that the violence amounted to an intelligence failure. He said the administration had expected the rally to remain peaceful, but the actions of those involved and the extent of the violence were unexpected.
The government, he reiterated, remains open to meeting the KSU and discussing each of the five issues raised by the organisation.