​Ready to talk on railways​: HDR

SHILLONG, JUN 2: Minister in-charge Home HDR Lyngdoh today said the state government is open for talks with the anti-railway project group provided that acts of violence and vandalism should stop.

“The government can consider having a dialogue but violence and acts of vandalism must end,” Lyngdoh told journalists here on Friday.

The home minister informed that he could not meet the delegation of the KSU leadership, who has sought appointment with him yesterday as he was not in the state capital.

According to him, the purpose of the meeting was that the delegation had wanted the state government to invite them for a dialogue on the issue.

The law and order situation in the state have been by and large affected arising out of the recent protest against the ongoing construction of the railway line in Ronghona under Byrnihat police outpost in Ri Bhoi District.

This has also led to the arresting of as many as five activists of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) which include the North Khasi Hills District president Ferdynald Kharkamni and central body assistant secretary Son Nongkhlaw.

The three districts – Ri Bhoi, East Khasi Hills and West Khasi Hills have witnessed series of arsons and petrol bomb attacks, targeting not only government offices but private properties as well.

With regards to the recent demand of the KSU to release their arrested members, Lyngdoh however said, “Those arrested are now in the Court and we cannot interfere with matters pertaining to the Court.”

Asked on the stand of the state government on the project, the home minister said, “Railway project is a central subject, so from the state government side we have nothing to say because implementation is being carried out by the Centre.”

According to him, the role of the state government is to only see and ensure that there is no breech in the law and order situation.

Lyngdoh however downplayed by adding that the state government will take up the matter with the authorities concern.

The KSU had earlier maintained that it would to oppose the railway project, till the time that the state government is able to come up with effective laws to prevent illegal influx of “outsiders” into the state.

Reacting to a query, the home minister claimed that the issue relating to the setting up of entry/exit points is already on the pipeline.

“The state government is not sitting on it (entry/exit points) and in fact it is taking serious action on this,” he added.

Whether there is any political angle to the issue keeping in mind the elections are closed to the heel, Lyngdoh however said that this cannot be ruled out.