‘Roster system will be fair to all communities’

SHILLONG, May 19: Extending full support to the MDA 2.0 government for its decisions on the implementation of the roster system, the National People’s Party on Friday said a roster to be put in place would safeguard all communities of the state irrespective of their tribal status.
Speaking to media persons here, on Health Minister and NPP leader Ampareen Lyngdoh said the roster would not be applied retrospectively because all departments in Meghalaya would be adopting the system for the first time.
“Since most departments do not have the data necessary for a reference of the roster application in the reservation policy, they will apply the roster prospectively,” she said.
The NPP leader and MDA spokesperson said the government would again invite all political parties to express their concerns on any agenda regarding the roster and its application in Meghalaya before a newly-constituted committee.
Referring to the walkout by the Voice of the People Party from the all-party meeting, NPP state president WR Kharlukhi said the Reservation Policy of 1972 is bound by Article 16, Clause 4, which is very clear that reservation is done for uplifting the weaker sections of society.
“Where in the Constitution does it say that population is a criterion for determining the reservation policy? Tribals in India constitute only 8.6% of the population but we still get reservations in order to be uplifted,” he said.
Taking an indirect dig at the VPP, Kharlukhi said the political party that raised this issue turned it into a political issue.
“If we go by this issue, we are going to divide the state. We do not play divisive politics. As leaders, we should try to unite the people. Today, we did not discuss the reservation policy because it is formulated according to the Constitution. As leaders, we should not go outside the Constitution,” he said.