Blockade against Meghalaya vehicles in Assam prompts decision
Shillong, Sep 18: Hours after a chaos at Meghalaya-Assam border at Khanapara on Thursday morning, the All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association (AKMTTA) has called off its indefinite protest demanding ban on entry of outside vehicles in tourist spots of Meghalaya.
AKMTTA took the decision after an assurance from East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner to hold a meeting on Tuesday to address the issues raised by the tourist taxis.
“The association has decided to suspend its indefinite strike until Tuesday, pending the outcome of the meeting,” AKMTTA spokesperson Balajied Jyrwa told reporters after the meeting held here on Thursday.
The meeting will be held between the Home (Police), Transport and Tourism departments and members of the association. “We will again take a call based on the outcome of the proposed meeting,” Jyrwa added.
Earlier, the government promptly called the association’s representatives for discussion after Meghalaya vehicles were blocked at Khanapara by Assam based taxi operators in retaliation of AKMTTA’s continued resistance against entry of outside vehicles in tourist spots.
Jyrwa, however, claimed that the association’s protest has been non-violent and has not disturbed law and order.
“The protest has only involved distribution of pamphlets to sensitise people about the issues faced by the tourist taxis,” he said.
He clarified that the incident in Assam, where Meghalaya vehicles were blocked, was due to misinformation.
“AKMTTA has not banned the entry of Assam vehicles into Meghalaya, but has only demanded that vehicles from outside the state should be restricted from operating in Meghalaya’s tourist spots,” he said.
“We have never restricted vehicles carrying passengers or patients. Till today, Assam vehicles are not stopped from operating in Meghalaya. Therefore, there is a strong attempt to create misunderstanding with our counterparts in Assam,” he asserted.
Making it clear that the protest is not against Assam, but against Meghalaya government, he said, “The district administration will take up the issue with its counterparts as this is a state versus state issue and not related to association.”
