Shillong, Sep 17: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today strongly criticised the state government for failing to include women and minority representatives in the new cabinet.
Addressing the media, state Mahila Congress president Joplyn S Shylla said the move was an “insult” to women and other communities of Meghalaya. “This is a betrayal of our matrilineal society, where women have always been held in the highest respect. Despite the high female workforce participation in the state, the absence of women in the Council of Ministers is a glaring injustice,” she said.
The cabinet reshuffle was effected yesterday. One of the casualties was East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh, the only woman in cabinet at the time.
Shylla accused the government of promoting “cartel politics” and sidelining women leaders for political convenience. “Instead of empowering women, the government has chosen to promote a system where power is concentrated in a few hands. It is shameful that they only pay lip service to women’s empowerment while practising discrimination in reality,” she added.
Echoing similar concerns, MPCC secretary Manuel Badwar said that the cabinet reshuffle had revealed the “invisible hand of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)” at work. “This government has turned into a cartel, where ministers and their families are using their positions for business and wealth accumulation, instead of serving the people. The poorest and the most vulnerable are being left out of development,” he alleged.
The BJP has just two MLAs but is thought to wield inordinate influence over the state government given that the party is the main force in the central government.
Badwar stressed that women’s representation in governance was not only symbolic but necessary for addressing pressing issues. “Given the rise in crimes against women and children, it is critical to have women ministers who can better understand and respond to these challenges. Without their presence, it becomes difficult for the state to tackle such problems effectively,” he said.
Both leaders maintained that the Congress was not looking at defections from the ruling coalition but was highlighting the lack of balance and inclusivity in the new cabinet. “Governance should reflect representation. Right now, this cabinet is lopsided and fails to uphold the traditions and values of our society,” Shylla stated.
