SHILLONG: Chairman of advisory committee of Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC), Anthony Kharbuli has called for the unity of all NGOs to be under ‘one flag’ in their fight against Railways Projects and he deemed talks with government as ‘meaningless’.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, he said, “Railway projects should be done away with. The NGOs should unite and fight under one flag. As pressure groups, we have to agitate against the projects,” he said.
He further added that the KSU will be given all the support to agitate against the projects. The pressure group will meet the KSU on Monday to discuss on the matter.
Calling, UDP president, Donkupar Roy, a ‘comedian’, Kharbuli ridiculed Roy’s suggestion to debate on the merits and the demerits of the proposed railway project in the State.
He maintained that the State Government should put up entry/exit points to control illegal immigration even as he asserted that influx of non-tribals has increased and the indigenous people are sidelined.
On the other hand, he decried the attitude of some NGOs, who would extort money from non-tribals, which according to him has weakened their stand on certain issues especially influx which he observed has been a major problem since the year 1994.
“NGOs are engaged in making money and do not work for the issues of the public,” Kharbuli said.
The former KSU leader, who was active during the late 80’s led the KSU along with late KSU leader Bull Lyngdoh against the move of the State Government, led by PA Sangma to bring in railway projects, which were met with stiff resistance from the Union.
Recalling that their protests bore fruit as the State Government in the year 1989 decided to not go ahead with its plan to start railway, he said, “Back in our days, we never call for talks as it has no meaning.”
At the height of railway protests in the late 80s, he said that Lyngdoh and he were arrested but were later released after the State Government succumbed to their demand in 1989.
Interestingly, he neatly maintained newspaper archives since the year 1989, which reported about the incidents of stone throwing, intimidation and attempted arson and their arrests.
Referring to the present situation, he said, “The NGOs are weak. It has been over 28 years now and out of the blue the issue on railways has resurfaced.”
Public meeting in EKH,
Ri Bhoi
A public meeting has been called in certain pockets of East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi district by three organisations to garner public support in their stand against administration of railway projects in the State.
Addressing reporters at The Shillong Club on Friday, Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), president, Wellbirth Rani said that public meeting will kick off from the seat of railway agitation, Nongpoh, Byrnihat and Umsning.
The three organisations, who called the meeting, included the FKJGP, Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF) and Ri-Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF). “The public meeting will be held at Nongpoh on July13, at Byrnihat it will be held at July18, on July 21 it will be organised at Umsning,” Wellbirth said.
The meetings are also said to be held at Mawlai, Nongthymmai and Malki. The dates will be announced later, the FKJGP president said, adding that the organisations are taking a non-violent route.
Rani said that the organisations will visit nooks and corners of every district.
Criticising the district administration of Ri-Bhoi, he said, “The raid in the homes of some KSU members has caused disturbance to the public.”
On talks with the State Government, he said, “There has been no official intimation from the State Government. We are not against railways in the State if it ushers in development but the government should be ready with the entry/exit point.”
Rani said that the apprehension of the people regarding railways should not be ignored.
