SHILLONG, May 28: The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) has urged all the 36 MLAs from Khasi-Jaintia Hills to come out in support of the demand for a review of the ‘outdated’ State Reservation Policy, 1972.
“We would advise these MLAs who are part of the MDA to resign if they feel that they cannot stand against the 17 MLAs of the NPP from Garo Hills region. We will help them win in the by-election if they are ready sacrifice for the larger interest of the Hynniewtrep community,” JSU general secretary Treiborlang R Suchen told The Shillong Times here on Sunday.
Suchen further stated that they expect the elected representative to keep the interests of the people above their own.
“Now, it is time to be united to demand that the outdated reservation policy should be reviewed. It is unacceptable that a policy which has been enforced for more than 51 years has not been reviewed,” he said, adding that the demand for a review of the reservation policy was raised by the union from time to time.
Suchen also emphasised that the JSU is very much against the plan of the MDA Government to implement the roster system retrospectively.
“If the government decides to implement the roster system from 1972 then it would mean that the youths belonging to the Khasi-Jaintia category will not get jobs for the 30 to 40 years,” JSU general secretary said.
While lauding VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit for holding the indefinite hunger strike for the larger interest of the Hynniewtrep community, Suchen said that the union strongly supports the demand of the VPP to review the reservation policy.
Meanwhile, the Khasi Students’ Union on Sunday asked the state government to immediately invite the leaders of the Voice of the People Party (VPP) for talks to review the reservation policy of 1972.
The student body also hinted at launching a stir if the government chooses to remain stubborn.
KSU president Lambokstarwell Marngar said the state government has constituted a roster system-specific committee.
“We want the government to also deliberate on the reservation policy,” he told reporters after some KSU leaders met VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, who is on an indefinite hunger strike since Tuesday demanding a review of the reservation policy.
“Senior officers in the Law Department can be asked to hold discussions with the VPP leaders to review this matter since it is an aspiration of each and every youth of the Hynniewtrep community,” Marngar said.
Stating that the union has full trust in the leaders of the VPP to take this movement forward, he said that the government should understand the sentiments and interests of the Hynniewtrep people.
He felt that the reservation policy, in force for more than 51 years, needs to be examined. The government should stop being adamant since Basaiawmoit has been fasting for five days, he said.
The KSU president warned the government not to test the patience and anger of the youth.
“This is not the first time that there is a protest on the reservation policy,” he said.
“The KSU is thankful to the VPP president for taking up the issue, which is not specific to any individual, group, or organisation,” Marngar said.
“Who will take the responsibility if anything happens in the next few days due to the government’s adamance?” he asked.