The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC) organised a black flag rally today in Khliehriat to protest against the proposed railway project in Jaiñtia Hills.
Other pressure groups who joined the rally were the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People, Jaiñtia Youth Federation, Saipung Circle, Meghalaya People’s United Front, All Biate Students Association, UHM- East Jaiñtia hills as well as the East Jaiñtia Hills Taxi driver Association and Meghalaya Indigenous Women’s Council.
Protesters marched through the streets, holding banners with slogans like “stop the train, start the change”, “We Reject Railway” and “Jaintia’s Future Not Railway’s Fortune,” expressing strong opposition to the government’s railway expansion plans.
Speakers at the rally reiterated that until and unless the government introduces a strict law to control influx, the people of Jaintia Hills would not support any railway expansion in the state.
JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh said the people are not against development but it should not be at the cost of the indigenous tribes. He said the groups want to send a clear message to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma to shelve the idea of bringing railways into Jaintia Hills unless there are laws to protect trade and control influx.
He stated that introduction of railways to the region is to ease cement companies and non-locals to carry out trade and warned the new executive committee in the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) against issuing of no objection certificate.
Lyngdoh said if the JHADC cannot enact a law to safeguard, protect and prevent exploitation of the people in trade and unless the government enforces a robust mechanism to control the influx like the inner line permit, the groups will continue to voice dissent against the railway project.
MPUF president Kyrshan Blah said Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla should focus on developing the region in terms of providing adequate health care facilities, roads, and educational institutions besides other development works for the benefit of the people.
JYF circle president Oswald Nampui stated officials of the North East Frontier Railway had visited Saipung to conduct a survey for the project. He said markings cut through the thriving agricultural fields and roads. He fears that farmers would find it difficult to cope with the loss of land.
