Rakkam bats for Baghmara – Assam – Bangladesh rail connection

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 15: Border Area Development Minister Rakkam A Sangma has urged the government to consider a proposal for connecting Baghmara in South Garo Hills with Guwahati, Assam and Bangladesh with a railway line.

Rakkam, who is also NPP legislator from Rongara-Siju, also termed the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act and provisions of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India as the greatest protection mechanism for the indigenous people while referring to groups opposing railways in Khasi-Jaintia region apprehending influx and illegal immigration.

Speaking to reporters, the minister said there was a proposal a long time back when Captain Williamson Sangma was chief minister to connect Guwahati with Bangladesh through Baghmara with railways.

“I will also still demand to make this happen because Baghmara can be the corridor for Meghalaya and for the North East where it can be connected directly to Dhaka. The trade and employment generation will rise up and lots of our young people and economy will improve,” he said while adding “Therefore, it is my pleasure to demand to the Government of India and I will also be meeting the Chief Minister very soon as a local MLA to demand for railways to connect Guwahati to Bangladesh to Dhaka through Baghmara.”

According to him, a petition was already submitted that an integrated check gate should be set up at Baghmara so that tourists and businessmen can come in because if the railway comes, the economy of the people will improve to a great extent.

Asked if he would request the government to divert the railway project proposed for Shillong and Byrnihat to Baghmara, Rakkam said, “If it is possible, I would request the railways department, the government of India, the government of Meghalaya to connect Baghmara with Guwahati by railway.”

Having said so, to me as education minister I want to say that every year I have been attending most of the graduation and convocation ceremonies in the state where there are 18,000 to 20,000 graduates and post-graduates every year. Out of 20,000 in a year, only 1,500 – 2000 government jobs are being advertised while the rest 18,000 plus educated are unemployed.”

On the continued opposition against railways in Khasi-Jaintia regions, the minister said, “Yes, there may be issues with everybody but now we have to decide the merits and demerits. Coming of railways to Shillong or East Khasi Hills may have the negative and demerits also but the merits are also there like the connectivity, job opportunities. The people from Garo Hills are going to Dimpur to buy clothes because the cost is cheaper. Therefore, I request that our people decide after comparing the merits and demerits. Whichever is heavier (they should go with that only).”

He said people should allow railways if proper mechanisms can be installed as employment and economy is the need of the hour.

“Therefore, we need more industries, we need more railways, we need more markets, we need more institutions which will create employment for the young people. Livelihood is above all important. As a son of the state, we should find a way to make our graduates employed.”

Also stating that it is important for the government to take up the issue of influx and immigration on priority, Rakkam said granting of ILP or not is in the hands of the Government of India but the Land Transfer Act and provisions of Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India are the greatest weapons for the people of the state. He also announced that the government is also contemplating introducing the Sixth Schedule as part of the school curriculum.

“Everybody should know this. We want to introduce in our curriculum that every students must read about Sixth Schedule about the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people, the culture, the tradition, the food, the assets, the rivers, the potential that we have…the Sixth Schedule is a complete mechanism,” he said while recalling that “Captain Sangma once stated when somebody asked a question that there are some people who wants to do away with the Sixth Schedule. Captain stated anybody who decides to do away with the Sixth Schedule he is the most useless person on the earth as the Sixth Schedule is a greatest pillar laid down by the leaders of the past specially for tribal people specially for Meghalayans.”

“Therefore, the Sixth Schedule is a greatest pillar and greated protection mechanism for all of us. Having said so, the provision of the Sixth Schedule if strengthened we got nothing to lose,” he asserted further.

Meghalaya State BJP waiting for central nod to new executive members

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 9: BJP leader and cabinet minister AL Hek has informed that the list of the new state executive members is awaiting the approval of the central leadership.

“This morning I spoke to the newly elected president Rikman G Momin, who is on the way to Delhi with a list for the approval of the central leaders. After getting the approval, they will publish the names of the new state executive members of the party,” Hek told reporters.

On the party’s preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Hek said that his name is among the three ticket aspirants for the Shillong parliamentary seat.

“However, I don’t know who the other two names are. So we will see who from the three names will be the best choice for contesting from Shillong parliamentary seat,” he said while adding “Among the three, whoever will be chosen, we will have to work hard and ensure win in this upcoming Lok Sabha election.”

On TMC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma joining the BJP, Hek however said the door of the BJP is not only open to TMC but also to all political parties.

“Mukul Sangma can join at any time he wants. I welcome him anytime but we have not discussed so how will I know if he is joining or not. But for us the door is open to anybody who wants to come to the BJP,” he said.

Hek also said that he has no idea on whether Mukul Sangma is in touch or not with the BJP central leadership.

India’s cultural heritage on display at Raj Bhavan Shillong

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Nov 1: Raj Bhavan Meghalaya, witnessed a spectacular display of the rich cultural heritage of India as Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andaman and Nicobar Island, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep and Puducherry celebrated their Foundation Day in a programme held at the Durbar Hall.

To mark the occasion a cultural evening was organized wherein the Governor of Meghalaya, Phagu Chauhan graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.

The cultural evening witnessed enthusiastic performances showcasing the rich cultural traditions of the States and Union Territories.

Earlier in his welcome address, Dr. B D R Tiwari, Commissioner and Secretary to the Governor of Meghalaya, spoke at length about the uniqueness of each State and Union Territories and also pointed out the immense contributions made by them in the growth and progress of the nation.

In line with the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme of the Government of India, the Foundation Day of the of different states/UTs are celebrated in Raj Bhavans across the country in an effort to enhance interaction & promote mutual understanding between people.

The programme was organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Shillong in collaboration with the Department of Arts and Culture, Government of Meghalaya.