Thousands join rally to commemorate Khasi National Awakening Day, KSU asks Govt not to implement railway line in EJH

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 4, 2025

Thousands of people took part in a rally organized by the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) at Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills District on April 4 to commemorate the Khasi National Awakening Day.

Addressing at a public meeting held after the rally, KSU president Lamborkstarwell Marngar send a clear message to the state government to refrain from making any attempt to implement the railway project in the district without effective anti-influx mechanism in place.

He reminded that the KSU had to forcefully stop the construction of the railway line at Byrnihat in 2017, when the government had allegedly tried to bulldoze on the issue.

Referring to the government’s decision to constitute a committee to take views of stakeholders on railway issue, Marngar said, “We want to suggest to the government to expand its district jails because we are ready to go to jail, if there is any attempt to bulldoze to introduce the railway line in this part of the state.”

“It is our duty to fight and protect our land. We also send a strong message to the blacksheeps of the jaidbynriew repent now before it is too late,” he added.

Marngar also urge the people to extend their support and cooperation in the fight against such attempt.

Further, the KSU president also slammed the Centre for delaying to implement the inner line permit (ILP) and inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution.

“I feel the main reason for the problem of insurgency in the region is because of the step-motherly attitude of the Centre. Such attitude forced the youth to take extreme steps such as taking up arms,” he stated.