North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum, never one to shy away from an attention-grabbing move, has slammed the state government for being dramatic.
“I’m dramatic and emotional when it comes to my people and their future,” Nongrum said today. “If the ones calling me dramatic are so practical, then what has happened to all the important issues? Who is playing the drama?” he added, citing the comment by Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui that he was not informed prior to the police raid last month on the house of ex-militant Cherishterfield Thangkhiew, which resulted in the latter’s death.
Nongrum said if the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance continues to play with the future of the state, it should be renamed as the “Meghalaya Dramatic Alliance.”
Meanwhile, the lone KHNAM legislator in the Assembly reiterated his demand that the age limit for state government jobs be relaxed to help absorb more unemployed Meghalayans.
The Chief Minister, however, has already poured cold water on the issue, saying that older entrants to civil service jobs would take opportunities away from younger applicants. Junior jobs are also more physically demanding and may not suit older entrants, the CM had said months ago.
“The time demand from us is not just to be mere politicians but legislators with a vision and farsightedness so that our educated youths are not left astray,” Nongrum said today. “If consultancies can be brought in from outside and people’s retirement can be extended, then why not the age relaxation for the youths so that they are provided with ample opportunity to apply for government jobs?”
He added that if age relaxation can be instituted in Assam, Nagaland and Mizoram, Meghalaya can also do the same.
