Taxi strike in Meghalaya temporarily suspended as govt agrees to talks

Guwahati: The All Khasi Meghalaya Tourist Taxi Association has temporarily suspended its indefinite strike, which threatened to disrupt tourism across the state, after the Meghalaya government agreed to hold emergency talks next week.

The association called off its protest on the evening of September 18, following intervention by the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, who scheduled a high-level meeting for Tuesday, September 23.

The meeting will include officials from the Home, Transport, and Tourism departments.

The association had launched the strike demanding operational restrictions on vehicles from outside Meghalaya at popular tourist spots.

Members argued that local taxi operators were losing business to competitors from neighboring states.

Tensions escalated after Assam authorities began blocking Meghalaya-registered vehicles at interstate checkpoints, reportedly in retaliation.

The situation intensified further on Thursday, when protesters stopped the convoy of former Meghalaya minister Rakkam A Sangma at Jorabat, prompting him to seek police assistance to continue his journey.

Speaking to the media, association spokesperson Balajied Jyrwa stated that the protest had remained entirely peaceful, involving only pamphlet distribution to raise public awareness about the challenges faced by local drivers.

He denied any formal ban on Assam vehicles, clarifying that the association only sought controlled access to key tourist locations, not blanket restrictions.

Jyrwa also expressed concern over what he called misinformation that triggered the retaliatory blockade, emphasizing that the association’s grievances lie with state policy, not with the people of Assam.

Meanwhile, stakeholders in the tourism industry have raised alarms, warning that such disputes could harm Meghalaya’s growing tourism sector, especially with the peak tourist season approaching.

The taxi association has also filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in court to pursue its demands through legal means, underscoring its commitment to seeking a long-term resolution.