The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) on Saturday exhorted the Assam and Meghalaya governments to discuss the issue arising out of Assam-registered tourist vehicles being stopped from proceeding to two popular tourist destinations in the neighbouring state by a youth organisation on Friday.

The disruption reportedly led to the “cancellation” of about 30 per cent
hotel bookings.

Members of the Hynniewtrep National Youth Federation (HNYF) had stopped the tourist taxis from Assam at Umtyngngar, about 25km from Shillong, from proceeding to Sohra and Dawki, prompting the intervention of the East Khasi Hills police.

Police stopped the situation from escalating by cracking down on those involved. Ten HNYF members were arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Around 50 taxis had to return without completing their trip during the hour-long disruption.

The HNYF were reportedly acting in support of local taxi association, who had moved the state government this month to regulate entry of tourist taxis from Assam from certain fixed points so that they can ferry the tourists to their destination of choice. Allowing entry of Assam vehicles was impacting them financially, they said.

The HNYF move was apparently also aimed at piling pressure on the state government to create an effective mechanism to check the influx of outsiders or migrant workers by implementing the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016, without any delay.

In its joint press release issued on Saturday, the two leading students organisation from Assam and Meghalaya said that they were “perturbed to witness that tourist carrying vehicles from Assam, both of private and commercial registration, being stopped at several places in Meghalaya and denied entry to the state”.

The joint statement also said, “Tourists and the vehicles ferrying tourists from Assam should come to Meghalaya without any worry or agony. However, it is pertinent for both the governments of Assam and Meghalaya to have thorough dialogue on the issue and solve the same permanently.”

“Similarly tourists’ taxis associations from both states are requested to maintain cordial relationship and a spirit of common understanding.”

“The onus is also on the two government to ensure the smooth flow of tourists and prevent a repeat,” a KSU member said.

The press release said that Assam and Meghalaya are two neighbouring states and it has been their constant endeavour “to strengthen friendly relation among the people of Assam and Meghalaya as both states are being plagued with the same problem of infiltration of illegal foreigners”.