Shillong (Meghalaya), Sep 18: A bitter dispute between Assam and Meghalaya’s tourist taxi unions has brought travel between the two states to a grinding halt, with hundreds of passengers caught in the crossfire.
The standoff began when Meghalaya’s taxi operators blocked Assam-registered cabs from operating beyond Shillong, prompting Assam’s drivers to retaliate with a blockade at Jorabat.
The row is over livelihoods, with Meghalaya’s taxi operators claiming Assam’s cabs are eating into their business, while Assam’s drivers argue they have every right to operate with their all-India permits. The situation turned ugly when former Meghalaya minister Rakkam A. Sangma’s vehicle was blocked by protesters, forcing him to rely on Assam police escort to continue his journey.
After tense negotiations, a temporary truce was brokered, allowing Meghalaya taxis to enter Assam, but the underlying issues remain unresolved. With tourism economies on both sides of the border hanging in the balance, the clock is ticking for a lasting solution.
