No railway connectivity unless ILP is implemented: HYC

Our stand is very clear: No railway until ILP is implemented in the state of Meghalaya," stated Roy Kupar Synrem

The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has reiterated its firm stand to continue protests against the state government’s move to construct a railway line in the East Jaintia Hills in the absence of anti-influx laws.

Speaking exclusively to Northeast Live, HYC General Secretary Roy Kupar Synrem stated that the organization will keep on opposing railway projects unless the government installs a mechanism to check influx and illegal immigration.

“We have seen the statement made by the Northeast Railway Frontier (NRF) yesterday, saying that they are fully committed to connecting Shillong and parts of Khasi and Jaintia Hills with railway connectivity. We just want to say one thing clearly to NRF- If NRF is committed to railway connectivity to Shillong and parts of Khasi and Jaintia Hills, then HYC is fully committed to ensuring that no railway connectivity will be permitted into the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region until and unless the Union Government, as well as the State Government, take appropriate steps to ensure that laws like Inner Line Permit (ILP) or any other regulations to stop influx into this state are implemented. Our stand is very clear-No railway until ILP is implemented in the state of Meghalaya,” stated Roy Kupar Synrem.

“We are not against any development, we think progressively and welcome any kind of development into the state. But we are also asking ourselves the question- Development at what cost? Do we allow development to come at the cost of an influx that overburdens the state and makes us a minority in our land? We are not against the railway. The Railway will be welcome, but only if laws like ILP or Regulations are put in place. Until then, we want the Central government and the State government not to even dream of bringing the railway into the Khasi and Jaintia Hills region,” added Roy Kupar Synrem.

The Indian Railways, on its part, has been very optimistic about finding a way out and completing the 108 km Byrnihat-Shillong rail project and making it operational at the earliest.

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