Shillong, May 7: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday criticised the opposition Voice of the People Party (VPP) for skipping the all-party meeting convened to discuss the expert committee’s report on the state reservation policy, saying political parties must “walk the talk” if they are serious about the issue.
Addressing a party meeting for declaring KAS president Dr. DRL Nonglait as the official candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha bypoll, the Chief Minister expressed disappointment over the absence of the VPP from the meeting.
“Yesterday, I was quite disappointed,” Sangma said.
He stated that the all-party meeting was called following demands raised by opposition parties during the Assembly session to deliberate on the expert committee’s report and discuss further steps regarding the reservation policy.
“As you are aware there was an expert committee that had come up with a report on the reservation issue and based on the demands given by the opposition on the floor of the House that an all-party meeting should be called to further discuss the report and deliberate on further actions that should be taken, I have called a meeting yesterday of all political parties,” he said.
Sangma pointed out that while other political parties attended the meeting, the VPP, which had strongly raised the issue earlier, chose not to participate.
“But sadly while all the other political parties attended, one political party who in the beginning had raised this issue and tried to show to the region and the people that they are very concerned about this issue and that they will fight for this issue till the last breath… yesterday I received a letter from them saying that they have other pressing issues because of which they can’t come for this particular issue,” he said.
Stressing that actions matter more than rhetoric, the Chief Minister said political parties must demonstrate their commitment democratically and constitutionally.
“Friends, we say in English we have to walk the talk and as I said in the beginning it is not just our words but it is our deeds that matter. If you love your people and if you love your land show it in action, show it democratically and show it constitutionally,” he stated.
Defending the performance of the NPP-led government over the past eight years, Sangma said his administration had taken up several long-pending issues that previous governments had allegedly failed to address.
“Friends for the last 8 years, it has not been easy for us. There is no one single issue that was there for the last 50 years that previous governments could not with due respect were not able to touch or resolve, but it is this NPP-led government that took the decision, difficult decisions, took up the challenge, put the people in front,” he said.
The Chief Minister highlighted issues such as the interstate boundary dispute, ST certificate matters in GHADC, adoption of the state anthem and emblem, and recognition of Khasi and Garo as official languages as achievements of his government.
Reacting to questions regarding his earlier remarks on “street politics,” Sangma said parliamentary democracy and constitutional platforms should be the primary means for raising public issues.
“We are a parliamentary democracy and the legislature is the highest level of democracy and it is there that we take up issues that are important to the people and the state and as elected members that is how we move in democracy,” he told reporters.
He reiterated that the all-party meeting was called in fulfilment of assurances made during Assembly discussions and maintained that democratic forums should be utilised instead of resorting to protests for every issue.
“So what is important is when we are looking at an issue then we must go all out for what we believe in… this meeting was very important because in a constitution, in a government, in a democratic parliamentary democracy, these are the platforms which you take up these issues and matters and it is not that we go to the streets for every single issue specially when opportunities are given in a democratic and constitutional manner to take up the matter,” Sangma added.
He further said it was unfortunate that certain political parties, despite demanding the meeting, did not attend it.
