SHILLONG: Launching an attack on the BJP, Urban Affairs Minister and Mylliem legislator, Ronnie V Lyngdoh, has accused the saffron party of trying to do away with reservation and quota system for the minorities and tribals.
Speaking at a literary awards-cum-felicitation programme for the aged and persons with disability organised by the Sawmer Women Organization on Saturday, Lyngdoh said that the agenda of BJP is to do away with such systems whereas Congress party wants to continue with these special benefits for the tribals and minorities.
“The reservation and quota systems should continue until the time tribals and minorities are at par with the rest of the country as by and large tribals are still backward,” he said while adding that big political parties from New Delhi are trying to squeeze into Meghalaya.
The Minister while addressing the function further said that though three indigenous groups in Meghalaya-Khasi, Jaintia and Garo- follow matrilineal system yet there is a general consensus among all that women in Meghalaya should be empowered in the state especially in terms of education.
Earlier, on a lighter note, Lyngdoh even said that if he was no longer an MLA after the 2018 assembly polls, he would become a member of the organisation with an intention to serve the people.
Lauding the organisation for its initiatives and serving the people for the last 14-15 years, Lyngdoh urged more organisations to come forward in the cause of serving the people even as he added that students who had excelled in various SSLC exams should continue working hard in their studies.
During the programme, students who excelled in their SSC examinations were felicitated besides many old citizens and persons with disabilities.
