SHILLONG, June 16: State BJP vice president and Tura MDC Bernard Marak on Sunday suggested that status quo should be maintained on the reservation policy.
Talking about the issue, he said, “I personally feel it should not be touched as there had been a balance between the three communities and 40 per cent reservation is necessary for the Garos. In spite of having so many chief ministers from Garo Hills they never looked to develop the infrastructure and the standard of education in Garo Hills.”
“Majority of our people are very poor and come from remote villages and ultimately reservation has become the only option for students to get to higher education,” he said.
He reminded that the issue cropped up only after the High Court verdict on the roster system.
“Now there is so much of backlog, we feel we have been deprived and betrayed by our own former chief ministers and minsters who did not look into this,” he continued.
He also pointed out that the review of the reservation policy is creating a big rift between the communities and the government should do something to maintain the balance.
“This will have a long-term impact and leave a big scar if it is not handled properly,” he added.