Shillong, April 18: United Democratic Party (UDP) chief Metbah Lyngdoh has taken up the issue related to the state reservation policy and roster system with the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and emphasized that discussion should be in the interest of all communities in the state.

“On his (CM) first day in office, I met him personally and I discussed with him with regards to the issue of the reservation policy and the roster system,” Lyngdoh told reporters.

“I have placed before him this very sensitive issue which needs to be discussed in detail for the interest of the people of all communities in the state and the approach has to be in a very harmonious and peaceful manner,” he added.

When asked, Lyngdoh said, “First, the right platform is with the chief minister. That is the right platform. So, we have aired our concerns about this issue and the chief minister has responded very positively that we will look into this issue.”

Asked on the stand of the UDP on whether the roster should be implemented with prospective or retrospective effect, the UDP leader however said, “I would like to tell you here this is a very sensitive issue. One can’t just say I like this I like that; we are here for the interest of the people of our state. With responsibility and accountability, we have to ensure whatever issues that we take up, it has to be in a very matured manner.”

He reiterated that the issue is very sensitive and delicate and need a very detailed discussion with the stakeholders in the government and said, “There we will place our points and give our suggestions accordingly.”

Lyngdoh also refused to comment on the VPP’s demand for reviewing of the state reservation policy and said, “I am not concerned about the points raised by other political parties, I am concerned about our own political party.”

When pointed out that the UDP had also made it clear the need to review of the reservation policy in its election manifesto, the party president however said, “That is what I am saying, so we will be reviewing in what sense? In the right platform. That is where we have to understand.”

Lyngdoh also expressed that he does not know who brought up the need to have a special session on the issue and said that the issue needs to be discussed first at the right platform then they will see from there.

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