Shillong, Sept 14: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Friday said that the claims made by the Food & Civil Supplies Minister Comingone Ymbon that absence of railways has resulted in the price rise of essential commodities coming from outside is just a cover up of the government’s failure to address the issue, which is affecting the people of the state.

“Therefore, through this communiqué, we urge the public not to be misled by such irresponsible statements,” KSU general secretary Donald V Thabah said in a statement.

Reiterating the firm stand of the KSU against implementation of railway lines in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills region, Thabah said, “The KSU has been opposing the proposed implementation of the railways since Bull Lyngdoh’s time and the main reason is because the KSU cannot welcome the railways so long as the anti-influx mechanisms are not in place to prevent unabated influx into the region.”

“That is why we have been demanding implementation of the Eastern Bengal Frontier Regulation 1873 or the inner line permit (ILP),” he added.

Thabah also recalled the 1989 protest against railways and a repeat of the same in 2017 when the North East Frontier Railways (NEFR) started construction of railway lines from Tetelia to Byrnihat. Over 40 activists of the KSU were arrested. According to him, the incident in 2017 is an example and also a reply to the government that the KSU will not hesitate to take stern action if it dares to bulldoze its way without implementing strong and effective anti-influx mechanisms like the ILP.

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