SHILLONG, May 21: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Sunday expresses concern that some “misguided politicians” belonging to the NPP have prophesied for their own political reasons that if there is a change in the ratio of job reservation Meghalaya would be engulfed in ethnic conflict and violence.
VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh claimed that such false prophecy by NPP leaders is an attempt to project to the world that the Garo community is an irrational one with high propensity for violence (even on a false premise).
“Such a description ought to be condemned by every sensible person. On the other hand, the same politicians have advised the Khasi-Jaintia community not to use their rational thinking but remain indifferent and blindly accept any wrong decision inflicted by the NPP-led MDA Government on them,” Myrboh said.
He said that the VPP holds the Garo community in high regard with capacity to use rationality and apply their sagacious mind and adding that the party encourages both the communities to resist any wrong decision taken by the government while maintaining a strong sense of fraternity.
The VPP spokesperson also challenged one and all to prove that the demand being made by the party for a review of the reservation policy is wrong or illogical.
“The job policy as per the resolution dated January 12, 1972 clearly states that reservation is based on population. But sadly the population was based by the then policymaker(s) on their assumption instead of factual Census data,” Myrboh said.
“The allegation that the VPP raises the job reservation policy with a hidden agenda to gain electorally in the upcoming MDC election is nothing short of absurdity. If raising people’s issues is unacceptable to them, it is their problem,” he said.
Myrboh asserted that the party is committed to people’s issues and we will not refrain from raising them. “If the parties in power cannot handle people’s issues, they better tender their resignation; they have no moral right to govern the state,” he said.
“For their kind knowledge, the VPP is not only a political party but a socio-political movement with a vision to ‘Revive Restore and Transform’ Meghalaya. Our politics is not to fool the people through the use of money power before elections,” the VPP spokesperson said.
Myrboh reminded that the VPP was invited by the government to the all party meeting on May 19 to discuss “reservation roster” but sadly only an explanation on the implementation of the compensatory roster system was made.
“Compensatory roster system is nothing but a retrospectively implementation of the roster system with effect from 1972. This compelled the VPP to stage a walkout more so after being informed that no discussion would be allowed on the review of the reservation policy,” he said.
The party also observed that it is rather shocking that someone in a responsible position does not even understand the meaning of the word “party”.
“Due to her ignorance, she chose to belittle the attendance of the nominees of the party – the vice president, general secretary and the spokesperson, in the absence of the party MLAs. Unlike in their party where everything is determined by power and where ministers and MLAs only matter, our party consists of both the MLAs and the non-MLAs and the latter also play a very important role in the party and the movement,” he said, without naming anyone.
Further, Myrboh said that the MLAs of the VPP would have definitely executed the responsibility entrusted by the electorate and attended the Assembly session if convened as demanded to discuss the reservation policy and the implementation of the roster system.
“We do not believe in the principle that whenever and wherever free refreshment is served there should be maximum attendance by the party members as money for such refreshment is borne by the public,” the VPP spokesperson added.
