JH groups slam Ampareen’s statement on railways

JOWAI, July 19: The Jaintia Students’ Union and the Jaintia National Council have condemned the statement of Cabinet minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh in connection with the proposed railway link in East Jaintia Hills.
Lyngdoh, the spokesperson of the MDA 2.0 Government, had stated that there was no co-relation between railways and influx and had asked pressure groups opposing the projects to evaluate the positive effect of the railway link in Garo Hills before coming to any conclusion.
The two groups maintained that they are not against development but it should not come at the cost of the people. The groups emphasised the need for a strong and effective law to check influx before considering railways to safeguard the indigenous people from being overrun by outsiders.