Shillong, May 25: The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government on Thursday invited the Voice of the People Party (VPP) chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit for talks following his indefinite hunger strike to demand immediate review of the 1972 job reservation policy entered its third day here.

“I just request the hon’ble legislator Ardent M Basaiawmoit representing the VPP to please come to the negotiating table let us discuss this matter and bring me what you want us to get done,” Minister in-charge Health and Family Welfare and spokesperson of the MDA government Ampareen Lyngdoh told reporters.

She however said, “I cannot promise Ardent Basaiawmoit that yes whatever he says will get done because I first have to understand what he wants.”

Lyngdoh, who is also chairperson of the committee on roster system, said that if the VPP chief stops his hunger strike it will be good for everyone as she added “We can also therefore get together and discuss this matter and see how best we can get beyond this without harming anyone of the communities because we are Meghalaya. There are three communities in the state and we would like to safeguard everybody’s interest.”

“Please Bah Ardent come to the table, let’s talk,” she requested.

Expressing concern about the health condition of the Nongkrem MLA, Lyngdoh said that she also wanted to see him and find out how he is doing although she has asked doctors to keep her posted about his wellbeing.

“He is a member of the Legislative Assembly; we cannot afford to see one of our colleagues go through this and I really do not want to talk about his agenda because I really have not seen a copy of this agenda. But firstly, I am concerned about Ardent’s wellbeing and therefore I am very tempted to go and see him and find out how he is doing because this is the third day that he is on a strike which very unfortunately has happened,” she said.