SHILLONG:
Congress MLA Saleng Sangma, on May 30, said that the decision of the state government to accept the recommendation of the Roster Committee to also discuss the Reservation Policy is a positive sign, but maintained that the reservation issue should not be used to drive a wedge among the three major tribes of the state.
“Discussions will lead to some kind of conclusion on the matter, and it is a good sign. We have three major tribes—the Khasis, Jaintias and Garos who fought unitedly for a separate state; there was no division back then, and we were one under one party – the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC). If tomorrow Jaintias start asking for separate reservation, a problem may arise between Khasis and Jaintias,” Sangma told media persons here today.
Stating that the 80 per cent reservation for the three major tribes–Khasis, Jaintias, and Garos must remain intact, he felt that all three tribes can come under one category, and that among the three, the best one should get.
Referring to the representation of ministers from the three different tribes, Sangma said that there have been very few ministers from the Garo Hills in the Meghalaya government.
“We now only have three ministers from the Garo Hills in the government, and in my entire career as a politician I have seen only one or two Garo Ministers. During Mukul Sangma’s time, there were only two ministers in the cabinet from Garo Hills,” he said.
Sangma further maintained that he is a Meghalayan first, and does not believe in the communal division.