SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has reiterated that measures like exit-entry points and the Residents Safety and Security Bill to check influx of illegal immigrants into the State will be put in place before the commissioning of the railway lines.
Sangma said the railway project in Garo Hills also faced similar resistance but the Government succeeded in allaying fears. He suggested that authorities concerned should take the protesting organisations to Mendipathar to prove that the railways did not lead to influx.
Earlier too, the chief minister had assured that the railway line would not be commissioned before the entry and exit points are set up.
“The problem is of disconnect of few misguided leaders belonging to one organisation (KSU) and over the years, the Government has engaged with NGOs in dealing with this contentious issue,” he said and added that he is personally monitoring the setting up of the check points.
The State and the capital city of Shillong have seen a turnaround in the last 4-5 years since the Government has kept its promise of dealing with influx, Sangma said. Asserting that setting up of entry and exit points is one of the components of the legislative measures taken by the Government to deal with the issue, he added that all the legislative measures “are not rhetoric but actual action”.
“This disconnect has to be corrected and I would like them to correct their whole approach since the State knows the commitment of the Government in dealing with the issue,” he said and added that some procedural delays in setting up of the entry and exit gate cannot be perceived as lack of intent on the part of the Government in addressing the issues.
The chief minister also said sometimes people in their individual capacity try to draw the attention of the Government by indulging in violence and they must withdraw from such activities.
“This railway line will not go through the proposed entry and exit point and we will need some more supplementary measures and this is the reason we have many other legislative measures,” he said.
