Meghalaya: VPP opts out of railway committee, calls it futile

Correspondent

SHILLONG: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has declined to participate in the All-Party Committee formed to examine the feasibility of railway connectivity in Meghalaya. VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said the decision stems from the government’s move to surrender the sanctioned funds back to the Centre, which the party sees as a final stance on the matter.

“We have communicated to the Government that our party will not be part of the all party committee to examine the feasibility of railway in Meghalaya. The point is when the government has already taken a decision to surrender the whole amount of money to the government of India, it’s like the government has taken a final call,” Myrboh said.

He added that forming a committee after such a decision is “a pointless exercise” and questioned the seriousness of the initiative. Myrboh also stressed that the demand for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) must take priority, as it reflects the political and ground reality in the state.

“They are not against the extension of Railways but they are saying that they want ILP first before introduction of railways,” he said, referring to the position of several civil society groups. “From our party VPP we see that this is a futile exercise. Therefore, we don’t feel it necessary to be part of that.”

Clarifying the party’s stand, Myrboh added, “We are not against railways but our party is very firm also on the need to introduce and have Inner Line Permit in the state. This has been a demand for a long time.”

When asked about the VPP manifesto mentioning goods trains, he said, “We mentioned but ultimately in the manifesto we linked it with the ILP. The introduction of ILP has strong place in the party manifesto, therefore it has to be linked with one another.”

In a letter to Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang, VPP reiterated that discussions on ILP and other effective mechanisms to check influx must take precedence over deliberations on expanding railway infrastructure.

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