SHILLONG: The Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) has called upon the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) to sit across the table for discussion to find an amicable solution to their demand for review of the State job reservation policy.
The KHNAM appeal to the GSU comes in the wake of opposition from the latter to KHNAM’s suggestion for review of the policy stirring a hornet’s nest as the job reservation policy is seen as a ‘bone of contention’ between the two tribal communities in the State.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, KHNAM general secretary Batkupar Wahlang reiterated their demand for review of the policy and stated that the claims by the GSU that Garos were able to compete with the Khasi counterparts due to lack of proper institutions in the Garo Hills region was unreasonable. Wahlang also asked the Garos to make a move ahead in the field of education and not depend solely on the 40 per cent quota.
KHNAM proposed maintaining the 40:40 quota but with a condition that it should equally benefit the three tribes – Khasis, Jaintias and Garos. The party also suggested that in the academic field cutoff percentages should be secured by the students to instill in them the spirit of competition.
“Like-minded people are invited to share their views on the pending issue of the reservation policy,” the party said.
Meanwhile, the party slammed Chief Minister Mukul Sangma for his comment that the issue raised by them was ‘mere political posturing’.
Party vice president Adelbert Nongrum argued that the party stands by a strong ideology to carry forward the cause of the indigenous people.
Criticizing the chief minister’s claim that some members of the party had left, Nongrum said if party MLAs or MDCs failed to abide by the KHNAM ideology they were free to leave or wait till their expulsion.
