By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 21: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has sharply criticised the Meghalaya government’s “excuse” for delaying the release of the Expert Committee’s report on the State Reservation Policy, calling the citation of the document’s “length and weight” untenable.
VPP president and Nongkrem MLA Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit acknowledged Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma’s assurance that the report would be released soon but said the party’s concerns over the delay remain.
“This is the first time we have encountered such an excuse—citing the physical size and weight of a report as a barrier to its disclosure,” Basaiawmoit said.
He expressed hope that the assurance would be fulfilled promptly, warning that further delays would fuel public scepticism and suggestions of reluctance to share the findings.
The Chief Minister had recently stated that the report—spanning approximately 4,000–5,000 pages and weighing nearly 200 kg—is highly sensitive and requires thorough review, as even minor punctuation could affect interpretations.
The remarks followed Basaiawmoit’s earlier warning that the VPP would resume protests if the report, submitted in June 2025, was not made public.
VPP warns of consequences post-2028 elections
In a separate statement, VPP spokesperson Batskhem Myrboh cautioned voters about the 2028 Assembly elections, describing the VPP as the only credible opposition to the ruling National People’s Party (NPP).
Myrboh claimed the NPP recognises this challenge and predicted that, without a VPP victory in 2028, the NPP would govern without effective opposition while the Bharatiya Janata Party holds power at the Centre.
He warned that post-2028, a continued NPP dominance could lead to intensified exploitation, environmental degradation, and widening inequality, with resources concentrated among the powerful and the poor further marginalised.
“The 2028 verdict will decide if Meghalaya prioritises accountability or faces greater social, economic, and environmental challenges,” Myrboh said.
‘Misplaced priorities’
Myrboh also criticised the government’s focus on large infrastructure projects amid lagging education, health, and child nutrition sectors.
While acknowledging the need for stadiums, he questioned the priority of building India’s largest football stadium at Mawkhanu in New Shillong at a cost of Rs 732 crore, given the state’s low per capita income, poor performance in mathematics, science, and English education, child malnutrition, and healthcare shortcomings.
“Prioritising grand infrastructure over human capital development shows misplaced priorities that benefit few while ignoring the majority,” he said.
