Shillong, Oct 11: Education will be his top priority if elected, said Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election Dr Batskhem Myrboh.
Speaking after the VPP public meeting at Polo Ground in Shillong on Saturday, Myrboh said education is a pertinent issue that needs to be taken very seriously.
“When we talk about education in Meghalaya, it is a very pertinent issue that we need to take this issue very seriously because education is something that shapes the society, and if we fail the youth by not providing good education, then we are ruining the future of the youth and even the future of the state,” Myrboh said.
He said education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution and the Government of India has come up with measures on education.
“Education falls under the concurrent list of the Indian Constitution, where the Parliament also, where the government of India also has come up with measures with regard to education, and as a candidate of this MP by-election, I believe and I take this strongly that we have to take this educational issue very seriously with the government of India, and if elected, I will definitely pursue and carry forward what the Constitution of India envisions for the people of India that they need to get a very quality education,” he said.
Myrboh said it is his constitutional duty as MP, if elected, to engage with authorities and raise the matter in the national forum to ensure proper, effective, scientific and secure education is imparted at an affordable price, as it is the duty of the state to provide education.
When asked about VPP’s clear stand on Inner Line Permit, inclusion of Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule and Article 371 for Meghalaya, Myrboh said these issues were placed in the party’s 2024 MP election manifesto and late MP Dr Ricky A J Syngkon had taken up the demands at different levels with the Government of India.
“These are issues placed in the party’s 2024 MP election manifesto, and late MP Dr Ricky Syngkon had put across the demand of the people to the Government of India at different levels,” he said.
“As a candidate of the Voice of the People’s Party, when elected, I will continue to pursue these issues with the government of India. These are the issues that the party has taken up, and therefore these issues will continue to be pursued,” he added.
On the Assam-Meghalaya border dispute, Myrboh said it needs to be resolved quickly because people in border areas face numerous challenges which should not exist in this century.
He said while settling the dispute, Meghalaya should not give away its land.
“But by settling the dispute between Meghalaya and Assam, we should not in a way give away your land. We should look into the historical context. We have to look into the records. What belonged to Meghalaya should belong to Meghalaya,” he said.
On who is his main opponent, Congress or NPP, Myrboh said VPP’s politics is unique.
“Our politics is unique. We know our own politics. We want to make sure, and we want to put across to the electorate the principles of the party, the agenda of the party. And we want that each and every responsible, conscious citizens and people of the state of Meghalaya to support the Voice of the People’s Party,” he said.
The VPP held the public meeting at Polo Ground on Saturday to garner support for Dr Myrboh, who is contesting the by-election for the seat left vacant after the demise of Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon.
The by-election has generated significant political activity in the state capital, with the VPP seeking to retain the seat that was won by its candidate in the last Lok Sabha elections.
