VPP slams NPP leaders over false prophecy on demand for change in reservation ratio

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 21, 2023

The Voice of the People Party (VPP) on Sunday asked both Khasi-Jaintia and Garo communities to resist any wrong decision taken by the state government pertaining to the reservation policy while maintaining a strong sense of fraternity.

The party also slammed leaders of the National People’s Party (NPP) for coming up with false prophecy that a change in the ratio of reservation would lead to ethnic conflict and violence.

“(We) express serious concern that some misguided politicians belonging to the NPP prophesied for their own political reasons that if there is a change in the ratio of reservation, Meghalaya would be engulfed in ethnic conflict and violence,” VPP spokesperson Dr Batskhem Myrboh said in a statement issued here. 

“Such false prophecy on the one hand, projects to the world that the Garo community is an irrational one with high propensity for violence (even on a false premise) which is in fact contrary to the fact and the belief of our Party,” he said while adding such a description ought to be condemned by every sensible person. 

On the other hand, Myrboh said the Khasi-Jaintia community has been advised by such politicians not to use their rational thinking but remain indifferent and blindly accept any wrong decision inflicted by the NPP led MDA Government on them. 

He said the VPP instead holds the Garo community in high regard with capacity to use rationality and apply the sagacious mind. 

“Also, the VPP encourages both the communities to resist any wrong decision taken up by the government while maintaining a strong sense of fraternity,” he added. 

Further, the VPP said it also dares to challenge if one sees the demand of the Party as wrong and illogical. 

Stating that the job policy as per the Resolution dated 12th January, 1972 clearly states that reservation is based on population, Myrboh however said, “But sadly the population was based by the then policy maker(s) on their assumption instead of factual census data.” 

“If the VPP’s demand for the employment of factual census data to determine the ratio of reservation, people who have such a misperception are not only uneducated but even illiterate, illogical, biased and have hidden agenda to deprive the Khasi-Jaintia community of their rightful claim,” he said.

Myrboh further termed that the allegation that the VPP raises the job reservation policy with a hidden agenda to gain electorally in the upcoming MDC election is nothing short of absurdity.”

“If raising people’s issues is unacceptable to them, it is their problem. The VPP is committed to people’s issues and we will not refrain from raising them,” he said while adding “If the parties in power cannot handle people’s issues, they better tender their resignation; they have no moral right to govern the state.”  

Reminding that the VPP is not only a political party but a socio-political movement with a vision to “Revive Restore and Transform” Meghalaya, Myrboh said, “Our politics is not to fool the people through the use of money power before election.” 

Referring to the just concluded all-party meeting called by the state government, the VPP spokesperson said that the VPP was invited by the government to the all party meeting on the 19th May, 2023 to discuss “Reservation roster” but sadly only a tuition/explanation and clarification seeking on the implementation of the compensatory roster system was made and allowed. 

“Compensatory roster system is nothing but a retrospectively implementation of the roster system with effect from 1972,” he said while adding tha this compelled the VPP to stage a walk out more so after being informed that no discussion would be allowed on the review of the reservation policy.  

Also, it is rather shocking that someone in a responsible position does not even understand the meaning of the word “party”, Myrboh while referring to a statement made by NPP leader and cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh.

“Due to her ignorance, she chose to belittle the attendance of the nominees of the Party – the Vice President, General Secretary and the Spokesperson of the Party in the absence of the Party MLAs,” he said. 

“Unlike in their Party where everything is determined by power and where Ministers and MLAs only matter, the VPP consists of both the MLAs and the non-MLAs and the latter also play a very important role in the Party and the movement,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Myrboh said tha the MLAs of the VPP would have definitely executed the responsibility entrusted by the electorate and attended the Assembly session if convened as demanded to discuss the reservation policy and the implementation of the roster system.

 The VPP does not believe in the principle that whenever and wherever free refreshment is served there should be maximum in attendance by the party members as such refreshment is borne by the public, he asserted.