Shillong: The All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) has temporarily suspended its protest that began on September 16, following assurances from the district administration that their concerns will be addressed in a meeting with the state government on September 23.
AKMTTA spokesperson Balajied Jyrwa told reporters that the association agreed to pause its agitation after the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills intervened and called an emergency meeting in response to tensions at Jorabad and Khanapara in Ri-Bhoi District, where several Meghalaya tourist taxis had been detained.
The upcoming talks will involve the Chief Minister’s Office, along with the Transport and Tourism Departments, to deliberate on AKMTTA’s demands.
The association, over the last two days, had distributed pamphlets to Assam-based tourist taxi operators, urging them not to operate within tourist destinations in Meghalaya.
This move drew retaliation from Assam’s taxi groups, who blocked Meghalaya vehicles from entering parts of Assam.
Jyrwa clarified that AKMTTA members had not harassed Assam drivers or tourists, insisting that rumours suggesting otherwise had worsened the standoff.
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“If you check our parking zones today, Assam taxis are still ferrying passengers. What we told them was simple: they should drop visitors at designated points, from where local taxis can take them to tourist sites,” he explained.
He further noted that the situation spiralled after misinformation spread that Assam vehicles were being forcibly stopped.
“Our action was only meant to safeguard the livelihood of local drivers, not to target anyone,” Jyrwa said, adding that the final decision on whether to continue or end the agitation will depend on the outcome of the September 23 meeting.
