SHILLONG, Feb 12: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Wednesday asked the state government to close the chapter on introducing railways in the state.
“Our stand is very clear. The state and central governments should close the chapter on railways. Implement the inner-line permit (ILP) first and then we will discuss,” KSU president Lambokstar Marngar said.
After the Centre issued a “have it or leave it” ultimatum to the state government, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma met the Minister for Railways and warned that Meghalaya would lose Rs 200 crore given for land acquisition if the railway projects could not be implemented.
“Without ILP, without any mechanism (to check infiltration), we won’t talk about railways. Not even goods train. We need a mechanism, not railway tracks. Let the government of India implement ILP first,” the KSU president said.
He insisted the loss of Rs 200 crore cannot be a reason to not “say no” to the railways.
Asked about the state government holding consultations with all stakeholders toward finding a solution, he said the union would take a call on whether or not to attend such meetings if they are invited for talks on the issue.
He, however, made it clear that their stand was simple and straight.
“If the central government pushes the state government to go ahead with railways, we will also push for the ILP,” he said.
The Centre wants to connect all state capitals in the Northeast with railway but the stalemate surrounding railway projects in Meghalaya continues.
This week, 21 wagon freight rakes carrying food grains for the Food Corporation of India were unloaded at the Mendipathar railway station, which was inaugurated in 2007.
The KSU leader said the state government and the Centre should take cognisance of the influx of people from Bangladesh to Meghalaya given the prevailing situation in the neighbouring country as it affects not just the state but the rest of the country as well.
He stated that while the union continues to initiate its measures to curb influx, the state government should come clear on the Centre’s stand on the ILP.
“We are watching and monitoring, and we instructed our units in the border areas to detect illegal migrants in the absence of any mechanism. We have to do our duty and check the influx into the state. We continue to check the labourers to verify whether they are genuine citizens and have all the documents,” Marngar said.
He said the state Assembly adopted the ILP resolution in 2019 but things have not progressed since.
“We don’t know the reason for the delay by the central government. I think the state government knows best since its representatives continuously meet the Union ministers. They should clarify why the Centre is delaying the implementation of the ILP in Meghalaya,” he added.
Marngar argued that in the absence of a mechanism to check influx, many are entering Meghalaya easily. The ILP with entry and exit points would have taken care of this issue, he said.
He referred to the case of a Bollywood actor who was stabbed by an illegal migrant who entered India through the Meghalaya border.
“The state and central governments should understand this alarming situation,” he said.
On Tuesday, members of the KSU sent away a group of migrant workers from Umsohsun, East Khasi Hills, alleging that they were working without proper documentation.
