The Centre has not authorised any person to hold dialogues with North-East insurgents on its behalf, informed Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani. “The Centre has not authorised any person to negotiate with the militants on its behalf. Law and order being a state subject should be dealt by the State government,” Mr. Advani told Meghalaya Chief Minister D. D. Lapang. “None from outside would be allowed to interfere with internal affairs of the state without the knowledge and proper authorisation of its government..... The State has the sole responsibility of maintaining law and order and the Centre will continue to render all assistance and support,” an official release quoted Advani as saying. The State Government would be included in any negotiation which would be tripartite in nature, the Deputy Prime Minister assured Mr. Lapang and Meghalaya Home Minister R. G. Lyngdoh, who too was present at the meeting.

Advani’s assurance came in the backdrop of Union Home Secretary N Gopalswami’s May 14 letter to Lapang saying the Centre had not authorised anyone to negotiate with militants operating in Meghalaya.

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