The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has requested the state government to set a cut-off date in the implementation of the roster system in Meghalaya.
The BJP had formed an internal committee to study the matter and recommend a party line.
Today, cabinet minister and BJP legislator AL Hek said that the saffron party, which is a member of the coalition government, would like to see a cut-off date for the roster system as there is no ruling from the Meghalaya High Court against such a cut-off.
It was the High Court that made it mandatory for a roster system to administer the state’s job reservation policy to be put in place. There are two opposing camps with regards to the roster system – those who want it to apply retrospectively and those who want it to be implemented prospectively. Garo Hills-centred organisations largely favour the former and those from Khasi-Jaintia Hills largely the latter.
When asked from which year the cut-off should apply, Hek said that the matter will be discussed once the government calls for an all-party or coalition meeting.
According to Hek, in line with the High Court’s ruling, the BJP wants the government to approve the cut-off either in cabinet or in the Assembly.
He also said that he has already asked Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to call for a coalition meeting to discuss the matter.
When asked about the division which this matter is creating among Khasi-Jaintias and Garos, he said that the tribes have co-existed for many years and any differences should be sorted out amicably.
