SHILLONG, MAY 8: Sniawbhalang Dhar on Friday criticised the Voice of the People Party (VPP)
for not attending the recent all-party meeting convened to discuss the report on the state’s reservation policy, alleging that the party was “not serious” about the issue despite having repeatedly demanded such a meeting.

Speaking to reporters, Dhar said he shared the same position earlier expressed by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma regarding the VPP’s absence.

“The Chief Minister has replied very clearly yesterday. I express the same views as what the Chief Minister had expressed on the matter,” Dhar said.

“It is very unfortunate to see that this particular party did not attend the meeting which had been extremely demanded by them to call for an all-party meeting,” he added.

Asked whether the VPP was “playing politics” over the issue, Dhar said the party’s conduct appeared to support that perception.

“You rightly said it. It seems that they are just playing politics as they are serious with this issue,” he said.

Dhar further stated that the government had responded positively to the VPP’s demand by convening the meeting, which was attended by other political parties.

“Whatever the case may be, the Chief Minister has called an all-party meeting which has been requested especially by the VPP and we have done it. We have called the meeting and all political parties have attended it, but it is only the VPP which is not there, which means they are not serious. It is as simple as that,” he said.

The all-party meeting was convened to deliberate on the report concerning Meghalaya’s reservation policy.