Shillong, Sept 17: The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Wednesday alleged that the new cabinet is a cartel and wondered why there are no women and minority representations.
The MPCC criticised the MDA government for what it termed ‘a blatant disregard towards women and minority representation in governance’.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, both the secretary MPCC, Manuel Badwar and the Mahila Congress president, Joplyn Shylla, said that despite having many competent leaders within the ruling coalition, the government has failed to appoint even a single woman as minister.
“This is not only an insult to the women and other communities of Meghalaya. There is no regard for competency and balance of power, but creating a lopsided approach to wield the sword of power for a few that toe the line of the powers in Delhi”, they said.
According to the Congress leaders, it’s a betrayal of the very foundation of ‘our matrilineal society, where women have always been held in the highest respect. In a state where the female workforce participation is higher than that of men, the absence of women in the council of ministers is a glaring injustice and a denial of rightful representation.
Instead of empowering women, the NPP-BJP government has chosen to promote cartel politics, sidelining the voices of women and neglecting the ethics and traditions of our society”, Badwar said.
“It is shameful that the ruling dispensation pays only lip service to women’s empowerment while, in practice, it is showing discrimination and disrespect towards them. By denying women their rightful place in decision-making, the MDA government has failed the people of Meghalaya and tarnished its proud legacy of gender respect”, Shylla added.
