Shillong, April 19: Bowing to pressure from several quarters, Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang today softened his stand on the Achik National Volunteers? Council (ANVC) and said the peace process with the banned outfit would continue.

Lapang had recently said at a chief ministers? meet in New Delhi that the state government would reconsider its decision about extending the peace process as the ANVC had violated the ceasefire ground rules.

The chief minister?s tough stand had sparked protests from various organisations, including the Federation for Achik Freedom, with many calling him a stumbling block in the road to peace.

The ANVC retaliated by issuing a press release last night, accusing the state government of failing to follow the ceasefire ground rules.

Lapang told reporters today that the government would review the reasons that disrupted the peace process. ?It has been nine months since the truce was signed, but we have not had satisfactory results. That is why we have to do something about it.?

He also admitted that the Centre, too, wanted the peace process to continue. ?Negotiations are going on with the ANVC and we will not dissociate from the peace process.?

Lapang, however, said a peaceful atmosphere was required to ensure that the process bore results.

?Both sides, the ANVC and the state government, should be sincere in their efforts,? he said.

Lapang said the state government had no information on the talks between the Centre and the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC).