The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) that has been opposing rail connectivity in the State is against the idea of introduction of a High-Speed Luxury Rail Network (HSLRN) in Shillong.
KSU General Secretary Donald V Thabah said the union will continue to oppose railways until a strong mechanism to check influx is in place.
He said the state government should instead prioritize improving the education and healthcare systems, ensuring transparency in recruitment processes, implementing strict measures to combat the drug menace, and enhancing the state’s overall infrastructure, particularly road connectivity.
Thabah said that the KSU cannot remain silent on the eagerness of a few associations to bring rail connectivity not only till Byrnihat but even to Shillong.
Asserting that the KSU is not against development as has been often alleged, he said the students’ body understands that it would be impossible to track people who enter the state once railway is introduced without a strong legislation to deal with influx.
He reminded the members of the Bri U Hynniewtrep about their fight since 1979.
He claimed that attempts are being made to forcefully snatch the rights of the indigenous population and pointed to instances where non-Khasis have attacked locals.
The KSU general secretary reiterated the need for a strong legislation to deal with influx like ILP and MRSSA and also demanded that the cut-off year for recognising outsiders as permanent residents of Meghalaya should be March 25, 1971.
“The KSU expresses its surprise when people or groups say that if the ILP is introduced in the state, the residents will become poor and starve and the state will decline in development,” he said.
Thabah claimed that the per capita income of ILP states like Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh is higher as compared to Meghalaya.
“Mizoram and Manipur also do not have railway lines but it is surprising that these two states have more goods than Meghalaya even though Meghalaya is almost three times farther from Guwahati compared to these two states. How can we blame the lack of railway line, or the distance from Guwahati or those officials who control and decide the price of goods in our state”, he questioned.
