SHILLONG, May 2: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Thursday lauded the sincerity shown by the Expert Committee on Reservation to solicit views and suggestions of all the stakeholders on the Meghalaya State reservation Policy of 1972. The party said it was excited about the prospect of meaningful recommendations from the concerned stakeholders.
The party was instrumental in the state government’s decision to constitute the expert committee headed by Justice (retd) Mool Chand Garg, former Judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, as Chairman.
“This shows the work (review of the reservation policy) is under progress and not stagnant and we appreciate the committee for their sincerity. We are looking forward to fruitful and meaningful recommendations from the committee based on the suggestions and inputs provided by different stakeholders,” VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh said, while adding that the party is hopeful about things moving in the right direction.
Asked if the party will submit its views and suggestions to the expert committee, Myrboh said, “We will hold a meeting and decide accordingly.”
Officials seen as unfair, unjust: VPP
The VPP on Thursday said those who are in the government are not perceived by the people to be fair and just and its fallout is the current law-and-order situation in the state.
“A government that respects the law and the rights of the people and walks the talk sets an example for people to be law-abiding citizens,” Myrboh said.
“Those in authority seen as circumventing the law send a wrong signal to the people,” he added.
“Political leaders are social leaders too, and how they behave reflects in the larger society. Therefore, it is very unfortunate those who are in the government are not perceived by the people to be fair and just,” he said.
Recalling the killing of ex-HNLC leader Cheristerfield Thangkhiew by the police on August 13, 2021, he said: “The state has not been able to get out of the controversies since the time he was killed.”
Myrboh said the distrust in the government has been growing as the officials give the impression that they are above the law.
Reacting to Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong’s assertion that “such incidents (petrol bomb attacks) occur from time to time” and there is no indication of any breakdown in law and order in the city, he said justifying an incident just because it happened in the past is childish and immature.
“It is important to have principled people committed to the Constitution, equality, and fairness to be at the helm of affairs,” he said.
According to Myrboh, the government is not keen to ensure peace, order and tranquillity in the state.
