Shillong, June 18: The Meghalaya unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today said that the Congress led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government should appreciate former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma and Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga for taking initiative to bring peace in the militancy hit north eastern region. Addressing newsmen after a party meeting, the state NCP president and MP Robert Kharshiing said the "state government should be happy that such personalities (Sangma and Zoramthanga) were taking their own initiatives to bring peace into the region.

He praised the role played by Zoramthanga, who managed to bring the NSCN (IM) top leaders for talks with the Centre in New Delhi recently. The state government should welcome the initiative taken by Sangma in bringing the banned militant outfits – Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) and Hynniewtrep National Volunteer Council (HNVC) - to the negotiating table, he said.

Kharshiing said while in the national level the Congress was opposing Pota but the state Congress had mooted the idea of invoking Pota to contain militancy in Meghalaya.

The NCP leader alleged people living in the Khaduli and Mukroh areas bordering Meghalaya and Assam were facing threats from militants belonging to United People's Democratic Solidarity and Karbi National Volunteer Council of Assam. Bureau Report