National People’s Party (NPP) MLA and the chairperson of the newly constituted committee to deliberate on the roster system, Dr M Ampareen Lyngdoh on Friday said the roster system will be applicable in a prospective manner.
Speaking to reporters at NPP headquarters, the National People’s Party spokesperson said, the roster will now be put in place to safeguard all communities of the state, irrespectable to their tribal statuses.
Stating that roster now will also put in order a reservation policy that went without a guideline for 51 long years, Lyngdoh said, “As was discussed both at the MDA as well as the All Party meeting, a retrospective application of the Roster will not arise, because for the first time all departments in the state of Meghalaya will be adopting a roster in a prospective nature.”
Taking dig at the Voice of the People’s party, the NPP leader said, discussions on policy making do not take place on the streets .
“Unfortunately members of a particular party abstained from even coming to the meeting and this is something we must set in order. I think we have to put things in the right perspective, if there are doubts, if there are questions to be asked, we have provided you the forum,” she said.
“I once again invite all the political parties to come forward, let us not hit the streets because the street is not where we make laws,” Dr. Lyngdoh, who is also incharge of law said.
Lyngdoh also said that the government had a mandate to just discuss the roster system in the state as directed by the High Court and going beyond that would be incorrect.
“If you (VPP) have another point which is different from what we are saying, come to the discussion table, discuss with an open mind, do not have hidden agendas, do not discuss policy making on the streets because it is dangerous for the public at large,” Dr. Ampareen said.
She said that there is a need to ensure that a robust roster is put into place to protect the interest of all citizens in the state.