The Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has stated that the government’s dream of connecting the state with railways will never be fulfilled without implementing the inner line permit (ILP).
Stating that the State government is making all out attempts to introduce railways in Meghalaya, KHNAM leader said, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is taking the “wrong route towards this goal”, which he needs to work harder for the implementation of the ILP.
The Chief Minister had recently announced that the central and state governments have been discussing possibilities of shifting the stalled railway project in Ri-Bhoi and East Khasi Hills to East Jaiñtia Hills.
“The government needs to understand that when we say that we opposed railways without the implementation of the ILP we meant in the entire part of Khasi Land (including Jaiñtia hills) and this ploy of the government to divide the Khasi Land will not work,” he opined.
Passah stated that there is no difference between the goods and the passenger trains and accused the CM of trying to lure the public in the name of goods train. He said sooner or later, passenger trains will be introduced.
He also warned the political parties supporting the idea of the goods trains and stated that it is just a ploy. “The general public also needs to understand that as long as we do not have a concrete mechanism to protect ourselves from influx, development at the cost of losing one’s identity is pointless,” he added.
