Chief Minister Conrad Sangma released a book ‘Values must come alive!’ by Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil at Parish Hall, Cathedral, Laitumkhrah on Monday.

The CM told the audience that Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, a retired Archbishop of Gauhati, had taught his father, late P.A. Sangma. The Archbishop’s analysis of socio-cultural and political issues has triggered numerous debates and concrete peace initiatives for which he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. His nomination recognized his continued commitment to have peace, reconciliation and stability in North East India.

Turning to the book that lays stress on dialogue, he stated that issues such as unemployment, ethnicity are the factors of insurgency in the North East even though it was all along viewed that insurgency was the problem.

Turning to the border issues that the state has with Assam, Sangma said, “Now when we talk about border issues and if we say that this is Meghalaya, this is Assam, we will never be able to resolve the problem. What we really want to resolve differences, we want to resolve this violence that goes on and we want to ensure that the interest of our people is kept.”