SHILLONG, April 18: The NPP-led MDA 2.0 Government finds itself sinking deeper into the roster system abyss with each passing day following growing pressure from all quarters, including from its coalition partners for a review of the Meghalaya State reservation Policy, 1972. There is additional pressure on the ruling dispensation to implement the roster system “prospectively” and not “retrospectively”.
Though Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has said that the government would take all stakeholders on board before moving forward on the ‘complicated’ and ‘sensitive’ issue of the roster system and that the matter was being discussed with a government team for resolution, time is running out for his government to come out with a tangible solution to the imbroglio.
Facing a volley of attack from all corners, the chief minister is likely to convene a meeting of the MDA next week to discuss the roster system.
Neither the CM nor his office confirmed the same but Cabinet Minister and senior BJP leader Alexander Laloo Hek on Tuesday said that the MDA will hold as meeting next week to discuss the contentious issue. Hek, however, did not mention any date for the said meeting.
Stating that he had met the CM on Monday, Hek told reporters that in his personal opinion the roster system should be implemented prospectively. He said it should also be discussed if there is a need to review the present reservation policy.
Hek also said that the BJP has already constituted a committee on this matter with former MLA Himalaya M. Shangpliang as the convener.
MLA Sanbor Shullai, party’s state president Ernest Mawrie, spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang, legal advisers Vivan G. Kynta and SP Mahanta and party leaders from Garo Hills Edmund K. Sangma and Ferlin CA Sangma are the other members of the committee, Hek disclosed.
Meanwhile, UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh said the roster system is a sensitive issue and that a detailed discussion in the right forum is necessary before arriving at any conclusion or decision.
Talking about his recent meeting with the CM, Lyngdoh said they had discussed the twin issues.
“I had raised this very sensitive issue which needs to be discussed in detail in the interest of the people of the state. There should be a peaceful and mature approach,” Lyngdoh said.
He said, “We need a detailed discussion with the stakeholders. We will place our points and give suggestions”.
Asked if the UDP is also for a special session of the Assembly to discuss the issues, he said, “I have nothing to say about the points or demands of other political parties. We will discuss the matter at the right platform and see what needs to be done.”
The CM is the right platform and the UDP has apprised him of its concerns, he added.
Lending its voice to the growing demand, the HSPDP on Tuesday said it favours a review of the Meghalaya State Reservation Policy, 1972 and prospective implementation of the roster system.
HSPDP president KP Pangniang said the party had clearly mentioned in its election manifesto that it would push for a review of the job reservation policy which has been in operation for the past 50 years.
“We feel it is time to improve the policy,” Pangniang said, adding the party also wants the roster system to be implemented prospectively.
“How can we go back to 1972? We would like it to be implemented from May 10 last year which is the day when the office memorandum was issued by the government to put in place a roster system according to the reservation policy of 1972,” the HSPDP president said.
He said the party will highlight all these points during the MDA meeting which Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma is expected to convene next week. The party expects that something positive will come out once the matter is discussed in the MDA meeting, Pangniang said.
On Monday, Sangma had said the government would take all stakeholders on board before moving forward on the “complicated and sensitive” issue of roster system. He said the matter is being discussed with a government team for resolution.
The Voice of the People Party has stuck to its guns. It wants the government to put on hold the roster system and review the reservation policy.
The CM told reporters the process of consultations would start soon.
“We need to ensure that all stakeholders are taken on board while we try to resolve it,” he said.
He also said that an internal meeting will be held this week but the government may take some time as the matter entails going through a lot of documents and court orders.
Subsequently, the government will hold meetings with the leaders of political parties and other stakeholders before taking a final decision.
