By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 21: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) will attend the upcoming all-party committee meeting convened by the state government, but has firmly reiterated its opposition to the introduction of railways in Meghalaya, warning that the move could worsen the state’s ongoing battle with illegal immigration.
“We were also requested to send names of representatives who will attend the meeting. It is a meeting on two agenda — railways and the demand for a winter capital,” said KHNAM working president Thomas Passah.
Stating that KHNAM has always maintained a clear position against the proposed railway projects, Passah said, “In writing, various documents have been submitted to the government. We have expressed our dissatisfaction with the attempt to bring railways. The fear is simple, migration. Without the railway, we are already having a huge problem with illegal immigration. Imagine the situation if the railway comes.”
While acknowledging the importance of development, Passah said it cannot come at the cost of identity and survival. “Shillong is not that far from Guwahati to say that we need railways very much at this juncture. I don’t think so. Development is required and very much important, but not at the cost of the extinction of a community. We have to ensure our tribe and community continues to exist.”
He confirmed that KHNAM would be attending the meeting and intends to submit a memorandum. “We will be attending the meeting, putting our points across the table, and submitting a memorandum as well,” he stated.
When asked about the decision of the Congress and the Voice of the People Party (VPP) to opt out of the committee, Passah refrained from commenting directly. “I don’t have the right to comment on political parties who have opted out. Every political party has their own directives to work on. It is best to leave it to their own choice,” he said.
The all-party committee, headed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, is expected to hold its first sitting by the end of May.
The panel has been tasked with engaging political parties and civil society on two contentious issues — the introduction of railways in Meghalaya and the demand for declaring Tura as the Winter Capital of the state.
Meanwhile, strong opposition to the railway projects continues to be voiced by major pressure groups including the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU), and the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF). These groups have consistently maintained that no railway project should proceed without a robust influx-checking mechanism in place.
