SHILLONG:
Days after Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong refused to give in to demands for a special session to discuss the roster system but instead insisted on an all-party meeting, many political parties in the state have reacted differently to this statement.
While the Congress’ view was in line with the government as it has left it to the government to decide on the issue, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) said that Tynsong’s assurance lacks sincerity.
Congress legislator from Mylliem Ronnie V Lyngdoh has left it to the wisdom of the state government to decide on the cut-off year to implement the controversial reservation roster in the state.
“The high court order was clear. It said – let the legislature and executive take a decision. The deputy chief minister has already said that they are going to have a cabinet meeting to decide on this. Let us leave it to the government first. We don’t need to have a special session. As and when the cabinet comes up with the decision, then we will see,” Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile, the VPP is not very pleased with the government’s response but has decided to wait and observe how the discussion with the government unfolds. VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said if the matter can be resolved through discussion with the government, it is well and good but if it cannot and the government still refuses to convene the special session, they will have no other choice but to go to the public.
The Meghalaya High Court, on April 3, has asked the legislature and executive to decide on the cut-off year to implement the roster system in the state. This order came a year after the court asked the government to implement the roster system from the time the reservation policy came into effect.
The implementation of the roster system to monitor the strict adherence to the state reservation policy has created a lot of confusion and evoked criticisms as certain political parties and social organisations objected to this move, saying that it would have a large-scale ramification on the present and future recruitment process.