Guwahati: Although Assam State Drivers’ Union (ASDU) has called off its agitation, concerns remain among drivers operating between Assam and Meghalaya, with many saying that the issue of their safety has not been resolved.ASDU blocked the Jorabat stretch connecting Assam and Meghalaya for three consecutive days from Thursday night, in response to alleged attacks on Assam cab drivers in Shillong. On Saturday, Assam border protection and development minister Atul Bora held talks with Meghalaya deputy chief minister Sniawbhalang Dhar. The drivers, however, said they would not travel to Meghalaya until the situation was fully resolved.“Assam-registered taxis have not been allowed to enter Meghalaya. They are being turned back at Barapani by Meghalaya taxi associations. Drivers will enter the state only after receiving a green signal from the authorities. It is better not to travel to Meghalaya because if a vehicle is attacked or a driver is assaulted, it could further complicate the situation,” ASDU general secretary Abdul Kadir said.The drivers also said they were waiting for an assurance from Meghalaya govt that Assamese people and tourists travelling to the state would not face harassment.“Along with the drivers, people travelling to Meghalaya must not face any form of harassment. The govt must ensure this,” Kadir said.Despite the withdrawal of the agitation, disruption was reported along the Meghalaya border, with drivers saying that Meghalaya-registered cabs were refusing to enter Assam. Private vehicles were being allowed to cross the border, but Assam-registered taxis continued to face difficulties, they said.“We are facing a lot of problems. We faced a similar situation in Shillong as well. We were left on the road even after making the full payment. We had been told and promised that we would be dropped at Guwahati railway station, for which the driver had also charged us extra. However, because of the current situation, we have now been left here,” a passenger travelling to Guwahati said.Passengers travelling onwards to upper Assam also reported similar problems. They said Meghalaya-registered vehicles were dropping them at the border, forcing them to hire Assam-registered vehicles to continue their journey.
