Shillong: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), the apex students’ body of Meghalaya, has been opposing the rail network in Shillong, stating that the railway connectivity may facilitate the influx of illegal migrants to the state.
The KSU has asked the Meghalaya government and Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) to abandon plans regarding the introduction of High-Speed Luxury Rail Network (HSLRN) in Shillong.
In a statement issued on Friday, KSU General Secretary Donald V Thabah urged the state government to 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.
He expressed concern that the students’ body cannot remain indifferent to the plans of railway connectivity not just to Byrnihat, but even to Shillong.
Thabah reaffirmed the KSU’s stance against the introduction of railways in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills until a robust mechanism is in place to mitigate influx and illegal immigration concerns.
He said strong legislation is needed, such as the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), to protect indigenous rights.
Asserting that the KSU is not against development, he argued that without stringent legislation to control influx, tracking individuals entering the state via railway would become impossible.
The KSU also demanded March 25, 1971, as the cut-off year for recognizing outsiders as permanent residents.
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Thabah, however, denied claims that ILP implementation may hinder development and economic growth.
He claimed that states with ILP such as Mizoram, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh have higher per-capita income as compared to Meghalaya
