The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Friday staged a protest in front of the Secretariat against the decision of the government to bring a railway line to East Jaintia Hills without implementation of the inner line permit (ILP).
Protesters with placards sat on the road in front of the secretariat. This has led to massive traffic jams.
The protest was called off after deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong called the leaders of the HYC for discussion and assured to look into the issues seriously.
Speaking to reporters, HYC general secretary Roykupar Synrem said, “We have made or pooint very clear that no ILP means no railways. No railways will be permitted to enter Khasi and Jaintia Hills without having laws to protect the indigenous people from influx of outsiders.”
“Regarding this, he (Tynsong) had categorically stated that the government has no intention to bring railways within Khasi and Jaintia Hills as of now and that there is no discussion in the state Cabinet regarding this matter. He has assured us that up till now there is no such commitment or there was no such decision made by the state government to bring railway either in Khliehriat or Byrnihat,” he said.
He said, “With regards to the pending issues relating to the ILP, Khasi language and MRSSA (Amendment) Bill, 2020 the deputy CM has told us that they are still pursuing the matter. The state government under the leadership of chief minister will also take a full delegation of the Meghalaya Cabinet to Delhi to meet the prime minister, home minister and other ministers to follow up on these pending issues. This cabinet will take these issues seriously with the union government.”
He said that the HYC has decided to wait for the delegation of the state Cabinet to meet the Centre after which the next course of action will be decided.
Synrem also said that the HYC will welcome the railway line and other development if ILP is implemented in Meghalaya.
On the MRSSA, Synrem said that the HYC is very clear on its stand that it does not accept the MRSSA, 2016 as it does not have enough teeth to check unabated influx into the state.
“Therefore, we are demanding immediate implementation of the MRSS(Amendment) Bill, 2020 which has all provisions of the ILP. We were assured that the state government will also go to the MHA with two demands, which is for the Centre to either give Meghalaya ILP or MRSS (Amendment) Bill, 2020,” he said.