By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, Sep 8: Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Monday dismissed the demand of the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) to adopt the “Sikkim model” of restricting tourist taxis from outside the state, calling the comparison “misleading”.
“Sikkim is an endpoint state, while Meghalaya is a transit state. A large number of vehicles pass through here as part of longer tourist circuits—Kaziranga to Shillong, Sohra and then Silchar. These are travellers in transit,” Lyngdoh said.
He added that it was wrong to claim that taxis from outside are barred in Sikkim, pointing out that many West Bengal-registered vehicles regularly ferry tourists there.
Warning that the AKMTTA’s demand could have wider repercussions, the minister said, “Every action has a reaction and any decision must stand the test of logic and law.”
He urged the association to engage with their counterparts in Assam, noting that many operators already hold national or multi-state permits covering both Assam and Meghalaya.
Lyngdoh also underlined a shortage of vehicles within the state and advised local operators to capitalise on their advantage by partnering with homestays, resorts, and hotels. “Why should the government do this for them when they can build such partnerships themselves?” he asked.
Tourism Commissioner and Secretary Cyril VD Diengdoh said the government is exploring both short- and long-term measures. To ease immediate concerns, he said the Tourism Department has proposed a scheme subsidising high parking fees at Guwahati airport for Meghalaya-registered taxis to allow them to compete with others.
He pointed to the ongoing expansion of Shillong airport, which will allow direct flights from major Indian cities. “This will reduce dependency on Guwahati and bring tourists straight to Meghalaya,” he said.
Diengdoh reminded that the Northeast is marketed as a composite destination, with tourists typically visiting multiple states.
“Meghalaya operators are already taking tourists to Arunachal Pradesh via Guwahati. Only Assam vehicles are not necessarily doing that,” he noted.
He also highlighted government schemes, such as a 50% subsidy on high-end vehicles for local tour operators, while stressing that homestay owners, hoteliers, and village authorities also have a stake in tourism operations.
He cautioned that any knee-jerk policy could hurt Meghalaya’s own people, many of whom rely on Guwahati for medical treatment, education, and connectivity.
“Decisions must remain within the framework of the law. All-India and three-state permits govern inter-state transport, and we cannot act outside these legal provisions,” Diengdoh said.

Protocols being finalised, says Deputy CM

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, Sep 8: The state government on Monday announced that it is finalising strict protocols to curb the misuse of power and the rampant VVIP culture in Meghalaya.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home (Police), Prestone Tynsong said that the state government is finalising strict protocols to curb the misuse of power and the rampant VIP culture in Meghalaya.
He said the days of impersonation, tinted glasses, and unauthorised sirens are numbered, with firm action to follow against offenders.
He also said that the government intended to send a strong message that impersonation is not acceptable under any circumstances and that, no individual will be allowed to misuse symbols of authority to display power.
He added that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is in the final stages. The Director General of Police has been directed to frame it without delay.
According to Tynsong, exemptions for the use of security paraphernalia will only be considered after review by the Home Department, both political and police, but otherwise, the crackdown will be uncompromising.
The announcement came in the wake of a high-profile arrest outside the Main Secretariat on Friday, where the police detained an individual, Mebanshem Snaitang, along with a dozen of his “bodyguards” posing as law enforcement personnel.
Three high-end vehicles were intercepted, and the police seized magazine pouches, air guns, and air pistols, preventing what could have been a serious security breach at the state’s administrative hub.
Snaitang, who described himself as a businessman and aspiring politician, is alleged to have close links with influential political figures in the state, including cabinet ministers.
Sources revealed that he regularly visited the office of a senior cabinet minister at the Secretariat. Unconfirmed reports also suggested he may have had ties with jailed HNLC leader Julius Dorphang although the police have not confirmed this.
Investigations further indicated that Snaitang has already begun preparing to contest the 2028 Assembly elections from the Mawhati constituency. His outreach reportedly includes donating chairs, providing financial aid, and gifting a large smart television to a village in the constituency.
The arrest raised questions about security lapses and the unchecked culture of privilege. The government’s promise about tough measures will now be tested on whether these new protocols can break the cycle of entitlement and misuse that has long gone unchallenged.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, Sep 8: Tourism Minister and government spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh on Monday said the Cabinet has begun examining the Expert Committee’s report on the State Reservation Policy, but cautioned that it will take time to study the “voluminous and bulky” document running into several thousand pages.
He said that the committee was tasked with reviewing the existing policy, recommending changes if required, and holding wide consultations across the state.
“After due diligence, we should be able to come up with decisions on the recommendations,” Lyngdoh assured.
On being asked about the timeline, he said the report was only received recently and is under initial scrutiny.
“We have taken cognisance of the report, and we will formulate our stand before deciding what needs to be done,” he said, adding that the recommendations include both status quo and fresh proposals, including economic considerations.
Lyngdoh insisted that the Cabinet has not delayed action since the report was submitted in June.
“We will not commit the mistake of rushing into any decision. Each recommendation carries weight and legal implications, so we must examine them thoroughly,” he said.
When told that Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang was tasked to study the report in-depth, he said that the chief secretary had briefed them earlier in the day on his report. He said that as Cabinet members, they have their questions, concerns, and points for greater clarity.
Lyngdoh said that they will ensure any decision taken on the report is balanced.
He confirmed that the government has the option to accept or reject the recommendations.
“The final decision lies with the government since it is only a recommendation,” Lyngdoh stated.
The Expert Committee, chaired by the retired Justice Mool Chand Garg, was constituted in September 2023. It submitted its findings in June this year.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, Sep 8: In a surprising development, Deputy Speaker Timothy D. Shira resigned from his post on Monday following a late-night call from Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, triggering speculation of a cabinet reshuffle.
Shira revealed that Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma called him around 11 pm on Sunday and asked him to step down. Shira said he complied without hesitation, explaining that as a senior-most party man, he believed it was not his place to ask why.
Confirming the resignation, Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma said an emergent meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) was called to review the calendar of the ongoing autumn session and fix the date for electing a new Deputy Speaker. He informed that the election would be held on the last day of the session on September 12.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, Sep 8: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police), Prestone Tynsong on Monday confirmed that a police vehicle was partially vandalised in connection with a violent confrontation in Jaiaw between a group of youths and suspected KSU members.
He said the situation was normal and the local Dorbar was working in close coordination with the police.
The incident occurred after a verbal altercation at Khyndai Lad on Friday evening when a group of youths intervened after a drug user was assaulted by alleged KSU members.
The tensions re-emerged on Saturday night, with five alleged KSU members reportedly assaulting the youths, accusing them of being drug addicts and urinating near the KSU office.
Three of the youths sustained injuries and were later discharged after receiving medical treatment. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, Vivek Syiem, stated that no FIR had been filed by either side. The central leadership of the KSU has not yet issued a statement on the matter.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, Sep 8: The Meghalaya SSA Schools’ Association (MSSASA) on Monday sought a clarification from the Education Department on its position regarding the Supreme Court ruling on the applicability of the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) to all in-service teachers.
Members of the MSSASA met Commissioner and Secretary of Education, Vijay Kumar Mantri, to discuss the issue.
In its ruling on September 1 in the case of Anjuman Ishaat-E-Taleem Trust Vs the State of Maharashtra & Others, the Supreme Court made it mandatory for all teachers, including those already in service, to clear the TET within two years. Failing to do so will result in termination, with such teachers either compulsorily retired or given the terminal benefits due to them.
Talking to reporters, MSSASA president Aristotle Rymbai said that as stakeholders in the education sector, they wanted to understand the stance of the state government on the ruling and its implementation in Meghalaya.
As per the ruling, Rymbai said all in-service teachers appointed prior to the enactment of the RTE Act, must pass the TET within two years, effective from September 1, 2025.
The order makes two key distinctions: teachers with less than five years of service are not required to clear the TET, while for those with more than five years of service, passing the TET is mandatory.
Additionally, teachers appointed before the RTE Act, who seek promotion, are also required to clear the TET, even if their service is less than five years.
“We discussed these points in detail with the Commissioner. He (Mantri) assured us that the government will take a decision on this matter in the coming days. Most likely, after the autumn session of the Assembly, the Education Department will deliberate further on the Supreme Court ruling,” Rymbai said.
From the Association’s side, he added, they have requested the government, through the Commissioner, to consider introducing a special exemption in view of the long years of service rendered by many teachers.
Rymbai pointed out that the ruling applies to all categories of teachers—government school teachers, private school teachers, SSA teachers, and DSE teachers.
According to him, many of these teachers have been serving for 15, 20, or even 25 years.
“We strongly feel that their service must be duly considered. The Commissioner assured us that he would place this suggestion before the government in the forthcoming meeting,” the MSSASA president said, adding that the Commissioner also reassured them that teachers need not panic over the ruling.
He further said that the government will soon take a call on the matter and issue clear directions and clarifications.
The MSSASA president said the Commissioner clarified that before this Supreme Court ruling, teachers appointed prior to August 23, 2010—the date of the NCTE notification—enjoyed exemption.
“However with this latest order, the exemption no longer applies,” Rymbai added.

Prime Minister to flag off newly-constructed Bairabi-Sairang railway line on September 13

From Aafaque Hussain

AIZAWL, Sep 8: Landlocked Mizoram which was fully dependent on road and limited aerial connectivity has finally embraced railways with the completion of Bairabi-Sairang railway project. With this, Aizawl becomes the fourth state capital in the Northeast after Guwahati, Agartala, and Itanagar to be connected to India’s railway grid.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will set the motion for railways in Mizoram when he will flag off the railway project on September 13.
The completion of the railway line has given an edge and opened avenues of opportunity and progress in Mizoram in terms of better connectivity even though the state is sensitive to its local issues and lays great emphasis on protecting the local identity and culture.
While Meghalaya has chosen to close all its doors to railway projects fearing it would bring large-scale influx of outsiders into the state sans ILP, Mizoram has kept it simple by decided to address all concerns about influx with strict enforcement of the ILP in all the railway stations. Joint Secretary of Information & Public Relations Department, Mizoram, Lalremruata Ralte who took a ride on the newly-constructed line with journalists, told The Shillong Times that the people of Mizoram have wholeheartedly welcomed railway since it would bring huge benefits to the people.
He said that apart from improving connectivity and easing the transportation of goods, the project would promote tourism here.
“People see pictures of Mizoram and they want to come here but faced problems due to limited connectivity. But with railways, we expect a lot of tourists to visit our state,” he said.
Asked if there is any fear about influx, he said that the government will strictly enforce ILP in all the railway stations to address all concerns.
The Bairabi-Sairang line would provide direct rail connectivity to Aizawl, thereby fully integrating the state into the national railway network. It would also enhance trade, boost tourism, improve passenger convenience and open new avenues for socio-economic development, fulfilling a long-cherished dream of the people of Mizoram to witness trains reaching the heart of their capital city.
AThe 51.38-km-long Bairabi-Sairang new line railway project is considered an engineering marvel of Indian Railways, built at an estimated cost of Rs 8,071 crore. The project consists of 48 tunnels, 55 major bridges and 87 minor bridges. The project includes tunnels with a total length of 12,853 metres, with the longest tunnel (Tunnel No. 3) spanning about two km. The height of bridge number 196 is 114 metres, which is 42 metres taller than the Qutub Minar.
The project also includes five road over bridges and six road under bridges. This new line project also includes construction of four new stations — Hortoki, Kawnpui, Mualkhang and Sairang.

Seat change leads to protest by Adelbert

The Assembly on Monday witnessed an unusual moment of dissent when VPP MLA from North Shillong, Adelbert Nongrum, raised an objection over the sudden change in his usual seating arrangement.
During the laying of reports and amendments, Nongrum unexpectedly stood up and questioned the Speaker on why his seat had been shifted from his usual place.
Speaker Thomas A. Sangma reminded him that such interventions must be raised through a point of order. He asked Nongrum to sit down, while assuring him that his grievance would be looked into after the session.
Later, the Speaker explained that Nongrum had raised the issue without citing a point of order, which was not in line with procedure.
He clarified that while Nongrum, as an elected representative, had the right to raise such concerns, he was expected to follow the proper rules. Sangma added that upon examining the matter, it was found that Nongrum was technically still part of the VPP legislative party, and therefore, the change in his seating arrangement may have been an oversight by the Assembly Secretariat. The error, he said, was corrected, and Nongrum was restored to his original seat.
When asked whether his office recognised Nongrum as a suspended legislator, the Speaker pointed out that the suspension letter issued by the party did not identify him in his capacity as an MLA.
Instead, it was addressed to him as “Mr. Adelbert Nongrum, Jaiaw,” without reference to his status as a legislator.
On that basis, the Speaker said the Assembly had interpreted that Nongrum remained part of the VPP legislative party despite his suspension from the political organisation.

Mehtab Chandee makes Assembly debut

In a 60-member Meghalaya Assembly where women remain woefully underrepresented, Gambegre MLA Mehtab Chandee Agitok Sangma, wife of Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, stepped into the House for the first time on Monday, attending her maiden session on Monday.
Mehtab won the Gambegre bye-election held on November 13 last year after the seat fell vacant following Saleng A. Sangma’s election to the Lok Sabha from Tura. Though she had taken her oath soon after the victory, she missed the previous session owing to her pregnancy, making her first formal presence in the Assembly on Monday.
Speaking to reporters, Mehtab said women had historically been underrepresented in politics. She described her entry into the House as an honour and expressed hope that her presence would inspire more women to join public life. On issues she planned to raise, she said she would be observing the proceedings for now as she was still learning how the House functioned, but assured that she would take up matters in future sessions.
With Mehtab, the Assembly now has four woman legislators including Ampareen Lyngdoh and Santa Mary Shylla of the NPP, and Miani D. Shira of the TMC.

Key amendment bills tabled on first day

The autumn session of the Assembly opened on Monday with the tabling of several important amendment bills, including the Meghalaya State Language (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Meghalaya Private Medical Institution (Regulation of Admission, Fixation of Fees and Reservation) Bill, 2025, and the Meghalaya Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma introduced the Meghalaya State Language (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The statement of objects and reasons explained that the State has recently created the Eastern West Khasi Hills district, where the Khasi community uses the Khasi language. To bring the new district within the framework of the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005, an amendment to Section 4 of the Act was required.
Since the Assembly was not in session when the district was formed, the Governor of Meghalaya had promulgated the Meghalaya State Language (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, under Article 213 (1) of the Constitution of India. The Bill tabled in the House now seeks to replace the Ordinance with an Act.
Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh also introduced two bills — the Meghalaya Private Medical Institution (including institutes under Private University) (Regulation of Admission, Fixation of Fees and Reservation) Bill, 2025, and the Meghalaya Homeopathic Medicine (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
In addition, Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma presented the Meghalaya Private Universities (Regulation of Establishment and Maintenance of Standard) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, while Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar moved the Meghalaya Heritage (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, Sep 8: The Khasi Students’ Union, South West Khasi Hills District (KSU-SWKHD), has reiterated its opposition to the proposed allotment of agricultural land to the BSF, declaring that it will not be intimidated by an FIR lodged against its leaders by the Syiem of Hima Maharam.
The FIR was filed after the student body staged a protest outside the Hima office against the proposal to allot about 70 acres of agricultural land to the BSF for the establishment of a unit headquarters near the Mula River under Ranikor Civil Sub-Division, South West Khasi Hills. The KSU has demanded that the plan be scrapped immediately.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, KSU-SWKHD president Marconi Thongni said the organisation would not allow agricultural land to be handed over to the BSF. He alleged that only two close aides of the Syiem had obtained pattas for the land earmarked for allotment, while many villagers who have traditionally cultivated the area now stand to lose their farmland.
“We will not remain silent, and we are not afraid of the Syiem’s attitude. We are also not surprised by the FIR, since it has become his habit to act against anyone who questions his decisions,” Thongni said.
The union accused the Syiem of misusing his authority and vowed to continue resisting until the Executive Dorbar decides to revoke the allotment. Thongni explained that the organisation initially refrained from making the matter public, considering it an internal affair of the Hima. However, they were compelled to act after the Syiem repeatedly failed to honour his assurances.
“The Syiem cannot impose his will because the land belongs to the raid (community land), and every member of the community has the right to use it,” he asserted.
Citing other alleged instances of abuse of power, Thongni pointed to the issue of mobile tower installations. He claimed that although villagers had provided No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to telecom companies, the Syiem insisted that approvals be routed through him and that compensation payments be made directly to his office.
The KSU leader also criticised the Syiem’s refusal to allot land for the office of the Ranikor Civil Sub-Division, calling his justification of “no land available” disingenuous. “In reality, he only wants money,” Thongni alleged.