Guwahati: Expressing concern over reports of violence during a protest in Shillong, the Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday called on the Meghalaya government to take firm action against those involved and ensure the safety of tourists and commercial vehicle drivers from Assam.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, party media panellist Ashish Bharali said incidents involving alleged attacks on visitors and vehicles were a matter of serious concern and should not be allowed to disrupt the relationship between Assam and Meghalaya.
The BJP leader said those responsible for the violence should be identified, arrested and dealt with according to law.
Bharali noted that Assam and Meghalaya share close historical, cultural and social ties and said such incidents could create unnecessary tension between people of the two neighbouring states.
The party also raised concerns over allegations made by drivers from Assam, who claimed that vehicles travelling in Meghalaya had been targeted and that their complaints had not received an adequate response.
Calling for immediate intervention, Bharali urged the Meghalaya government to strengthen security arrangements for tourists and drivers travelling between the two states. He said both the Assam and Meghalaya governments should work together to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.
The BJP also cautioned that concerns regarding the safety of visitors could have wider implications for Meghalaya’s tourism sector, which attracts travellers from across the Northeast and other parts of the country.
At the same time, the Assam BJP appealed to drivers and others protesting over the reported incidents in Assam to exercise restraint and maintain peace. The party urged people not to allow the situation to escalate or lead to retaliatory incidents.
BJP spokesperson Kamal Kumar Medhi was also present during the press conference.
The development comes amid heightened concern over the reported incidents in Shillong during the protest, with the Assam BJP seeking stronger action and improved security for people travelling between the two neighbouring states.
