The Voice of the People Party (VPP) has refused to have talks with the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government led by the National People’s Party (NPP) over the Reservation Roster System.
A week ago, Bah Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, the President of the VPP refused to be inducted into the committee headed by Dr. Ampareen Lyngdoh, MLA, to discuss the Reservation Roster System and had said that his Party wanted the Government to make a new system and not just engage in dialogue.
Brightstarwell Marbaniang, MLA, VPP, at a press conference had said that the Party had received a letter from the State Government on Sunday at around 11:00 a.m. wherein Bah Ardent Basaiawmoit was inducted into the committee for debating the Reservation Roster System. He said, ” they have included Bah Ardent in the committee, without his consent, hence the Party is preparing a reply of refusal for the same”. He further stated that they do not want to engage in further discussion regarding this policy since the Roster System of old was lopsided and unfair, so they do not want to be part of that Committee.
To recount, the VPP in it’s Election Manifesto had spoken about correcting the wrongs of the existing Reservation Policy.
“God has given us only four MLAs, and we have tried to approach the Court as well, but as you know, we were not able to. We have sent a letter to the Government to call for a special meeting to debate and discuss about the Reservation Policy, to no avail. This is the reason we have reached this stage”, said Marbaniang.
He further stated, “the public have a right to question the remaining 31 MLAs regarding the Policy since none have come forward till date, to discuss it, inspite of it being one of the points in their Election Manifestos”.
