Shillong, June 5: United Democratic Party (UDP) leader and cabinet minister in-charge Tourism, Paul Lyngdoh, on Monday stated that Garos are far more matured and far more politically astute, compared to the Khasis.

Giving his observations on the situation in the state, he said, “Garos are far more matured, for more astute politically, compared to us (the Khasis). We made a lot of unnecessary noise about a lot of things.”

“For instance, a few noises were made about a Khasi Chief Minister in 2023, there was no such clamour in Garo Hills. But what they did was they put an end to all hopes of an Khasi Chief Minister by ensuring that out of 24 seats in Garo Hills sector, 18 seats went to the NPP. They did not make any noise about it. We made all the noise,” he asserted.

Asked if reviewing the reservation policy will put an end to the unemployment crisis in Meghalaya, Lyngdoh stated that it will never.

He explained that there are 500 vacancies available with the government and government undertakings in a year and that this is a dwindling sector in terms of employment.

“In the 21st century, should talk more about sectors like tourism, weaving, village tourism, about government aided projects, lots of opportunities. So, I feel that our sense of priorities is very wrong,” said Lyngdoh.

The minister said that the real issues are drug addiction, single mother families, child malnourishment, infant mortality rate, landlessness, these are the issues that concern the State. “But why don’t they draw crowds because they do not have that element of instigating hate and they are not populist; hence they are not popular as issues,” expressed Lyngdoh.