TURA, April 27: Prominent citizens’ bodies from Tura like the Tura Garo Senior Citizens’ Forum (TGSCF), Garo Graduates’ Union (GGU), New Tura Development Forum (NTDF) and others on Thursday called on Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma to keep the reservation policy and the roster system intact and not succumb to the pressure for its dilution and modification by certain groups.
Pointing out that the demand for its review was being made merely by vested interests groups, the groups in a memorandum to the chief minister urged him to safeguard the rights of the A’chik people who have already been deprived, by maintaining all its clauses intact.
“The vested interest groups are now intending further to take away the perquisites of this community. While it seems that the situation in the matter of relationship between two major community groups, viz. the Garos and the Khasi-Jaintias is becoming bad because of raking up of the issue; the more vigorous demand by the vested interest groups for implementation of the roster system with prospective effect, may further shatter the relationship and co-existence of these communities in the State ultimately ending up in a situation where both the communities lose their respective shares of reservations,” the groups cautioned.
“The reservation policy is a sensitive matter and if the same is not handled meticulously, both the stakeholders (Khasis-Jaintias and Garos) may lose their 40:40 share and go down to 50% reservations for both the communities of the state as a whole. So, we condemn and strongly oppose the move for modifying and redefining the reservation policy. There should not be discussions and any decision to change or redefine the policy both inside and outside of the Assembly,” they added.
The combined groups further added that the Garos have all along been discriminated against due to the non implementation of the policy in true letter and spirit and now efforts are being made to deprive them further of their share of opportunities.
Pointing out that the reservation policy was enacted by visionary leaders and founding fathers of the state, the groups urged that their vision be respected as it was they who fought hard to achieve Statehood.
Meanwhile, the Voice of the People Party on Thursday said it will organise the second phase of public rallies to provide proper and correct perspective and consciousness on the unjust implementation of the roster system based on the unfair premise of the reservation policy.
The party will hold its first meeting at Nongstoin market complex on May 2 followed by a meeting at Iew Mawlong, Nongpoh on May 4.
VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said another meeting will be organised at Mawkyrwat but the date is yet to be determined.
He urged the public to attend the meetings which will continue till the matter is resolved.
