Mukul accuses NPP-led Govt of messing up with railway projects in Khasi-Jaintia region

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 23, 2025

Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma has accused the state government of “messing up” the proposed implementation of railway projects in Khasi-Jaintia Hills region.

“They have messed up. We are in a mess because of an incompetent government,” Sangma told reporters on Friday.

He was reacting to a query if the government’s attempt to call for an all party meeting is a futile exercise since civil society organizations have maintained they will not allow implementation of the railway projects in absence of strong and effective anti-influx mechanisms such as the inner line permit (ILP).

He recalled saying, “If at that point of time all civil society organizations have allowed us to proceed ahead with the implementation to the extent that has been completed – it is there on the ground. Did we force it? No, we did not force. In fact the whole survey work till Shillong was completed. The proposed railway station in the vicinity of Shillong was also completed.”

Terming the opposition against railway projects in the region as a visible and palpable trust deficit on the government, the former chief minister said, “This is because the government has not been able to demonstrate any action which can instill the sense of trust and confidence among the people and there will be many more instances which will create more and more trust deficit.”

“It is precisely because of this trust deficit that people of Khasi Hills area refused to vote and elect members of KHADC. The manner in which they manage to win in Jaintia Hills in respect in JHADC is somehow subject to scrutiny. It has been flagged before the people of the state in the Assembly by the members of the august House,” he stated.

Asked on the TMC’s stand following the decision of the opposition Congress and VPP to reject the all party committee on railways, Sangma however said, “I am also observing this whole development.”

He asserted, “How you do things is very important. You can do but how you do it is very important. Maybe what they do is the reason why they are delinking themselves. I would put it that way much simpler but blunt. I am simple in my expression but I am being blunt.”

Further, Sangma pointed out that all the different civil society organizations are opposing the construction of railways because of reasons which have already been highlighted and flagged before the government.

“Therefore, the whole discussion must be designed in such a way and therefore the overall approach must be discussed with the political parties – you cannot call everybody and make us a part of that discussion. What is preventing the government from calling the leaders of these political parties first and discussing it but they have chosen to send a letter that sends a nominee. They will go and discuss what? What are the parameters? What are those areas of concerns? What will be the approach?” he asked.

“Now, political parties cannot be there in a discussion with civil society organizations when you don’t have a complete clarity on the government’s approach itself. Therefore, It is necessary for us to understand the need for discussion at different levels and with different people. Maybe some advice will come from many of us – I think the approach should be this,” he added.

Asked, Sangma said, “I am telling you the approach has to be correct. Has the government known the minds of the parties? Have I also known the minds of the parties? We have to have a certain kind of discussion at the political party level first. That is what I am saying. Before you discuss in a platform which will have all stakeholders, which is the ultimate platform we are looking at but before that because the intent of the committee is what, the intent of the committee is to explore the possibility of ending the deadlock if need be or to put it as it is.”

During his tenure as chief minister, Sangma said that he was able to convince the government of India to at least keep in abeyance all that was revolving uranium mining.

“…if civil society organizations are opposing the construction and extension of railway lines then there are reasons for us to know the riders, riders with clear pronouncement of their stance where they have pronounced that they are not against developmental initiatives – they are not against construction of railway lines but how to deal with this rider and come to a kind of situation where we can somehow find an end result which ultimately allow us to see that the so-called mess we are able to get out of the mess. Today, we are in a mess,” he reiterated.