Centre was not keen to hold talks with Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) on the demand of separate Garoland in western part of Meghalaya, a home ministry official said Friday.

Not only the central government, but Meghalaya government too appeared not to be in a hurry to accept GNLA’s offer for peace talks.

On Wednesday, GNLA’s political secretary Bikdot Nikjang Marak offered an olive branch to the government to shun its armed struggle provided the Indian government accepts its demands for creation of a separate Garo state within the Indian constitution.

“We are always willing to hold talks and solve issues peacefully but the GNLA must first disarm and stop its violent activities to create a favorable environment for talks,” Meghalaya home minister H.D.R.Lyngdoh said.

Moreover, Lyngdoh said that the people did not give GNLA to fight for a separate Garoland state, so the question of holding talks on this issue does not arise.

“The public have not given its mandate to the GNLA to fight for a separate state. The government has not received any memorandum from the public on the demand for separate state,” Lyngdoh said. 

The GNLA, which has over 200 rebel armies, including a few women cadres, is fighting for Garoland in the five impoverished districts of Garo Hills to be carved out of Meghalaya.

“They (GNLA rebels) are always welcome to come out (surrender) and face trial for their criminal activities but we are not keen to hold talks with them,” Shambu Singh, joint secretary (northeast) in the union home ministry, said.

Moreover, Singh also termed the GNLA’s olive branch offer as a “face-saving” exercise after the arrest of the outfit Supremo Champion R Sangma July 30 near the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya.

Stating that dividing Meghalaya further is “not viable”, Singh said “Meghalaya is already a small state with too many internal conflicts and I don’t think further dividing Meghalaya is not viable.”

“If the centre has not acceded to creation of Telangana, Gorkhaland and Bodoland. Do you think the government will give in to their (GNLA) demand for a separate Garoland,” home ministry official said.

Over 35 people, including security personnel, have been killed and more than 20 people were abducted for ransom by GNLA rebels in the last one year.