Shillong, March 12 (IANS) The Meghalaya government Friday asked New Delhi not to waste time and reach an 'acceptable tripartite accord' with the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) for lasting peace in Garo Hills.

'I have met the home minister (P. Chidambaram) and urged him to initiate a political and social dialogue with the ANVC,' Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Mukul M. Sangma told IANS over the phone from New Delhi.

Though the tripartite agreement with the ANVC was signed six years ago, Sangma rued that no political dialogue had taken place.

Upset with the central government, the ANVC, one of the most powerful rebel groups in Meghalaya, has threatened to pull out of the agreement and return to armed struggle.

'We will seek public opinion on whether to continue with the ceasefire agreement or return to the jungle,' said Dilash R. Marak, chairman of the ANVC.

The ANVC, he said, was upset with New Delhi for not initiating political dialogue over its demand for a separate Garoland Council.

'We have scaled down our demand from separate statehood to an autonomous council within the Indian constitution in the format of Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam but that too has not materialised,' he said.

Sangma, who rushed to New Delhi Thursday, warned that 'undue delay' would only add to the 'restlessness of ANVC leaders' and low-rung cadres might form new outfits.

'Such a scenario would only defeat the purpose of the tripartite ceasefire agreement after waiting for six years,' Sangma said.