Cong MP Saleng flags Rohingya refugees & regrouping of militants in Meghalaya

Opposition Congress Lok Sabha member, Saleng Sangma on Monday said that he has apprised Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressing his concern over Rohingya refugees and “regrouping of militants” in Meghalaya.
“ When we talk about Rohingya refugees, there is a possibility that the Arakan Army might have entered Meghalaya,” Sangma said, revealing that he had informed Home Minister Amit Shah on Rohingya entering Meghalaya as well as militants organising in the state during the recent parliamentary consultative committee meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Congress MP from Tura parliamentary constituency urged the Meghalaya government to be more vigilant given its proximity to the international border with Bangladesh and the recent arrest of Bangladeshi dacoits with a Bangladeshi police constable in South West Khasi Hills district.
Lashing out at the NPP-led government in Meghalaya over the alleged regrouping of militant’s groups in the State, Sangma criticised the state government for its inaction stating that it is good at “showmanship” but lacks substance.
He further accused the state government of pushing back young people and unemployed youth into militancy.
“The resurgence of militancy in the state is a matter of concern for every citizen in the state because they were thinking that those horrifying days of militancy are over,” Sangma said.
The Congress MP also informed that he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar over several issues, including drug abuse, border security, weak fencing, check points and infrastructure development after visiting the India-Bangladesh border areas recently.
Meanwhile, the Congress MP has proposed to the Centre the extension of the Mendipathar railway station, the only railway line in Meghalaya, to major cities like Kanyakumari, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata.
“I have urged the Centre to consider connecting Mendipathar railway station to Kanyakumari, Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata with super-fast train for the benefit of the people residing in Garo Hills region,” Sangma said.
Sangma said that Prime Minister Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw have agreed to examine his proposal to consider for goods (freight) train to Mendipathar.
“Unless we get a goods train from Mendipathar, Garo Hills will not benefit,” he said.
Mendipathar railway station in North Garo Hills district is only connected by a daily passenger train to Guwahati, Assam.