Shillong, Feb 27: The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) has taken strong exception to VPP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit’s statement in the assembly, accusing him of making an attempt to exclude the Jaintia (Pnar) community from the Scheduled Tribe reservation list.
Basaiawmoit had referred to “Khasi”, and did not mention Jaintia/Pnar, while seeking enhancement of share of reservation for the community in the state reservation policy.
“The JSU strongly disapproves of any ideology that seeks to exclude the Pnar/Jaintia language and identity from Meghalaya,” JSU said in a statement issued on Friday.
Highlighting the Pnar/Jaintia community’s distinct identity, culture, and official recognition, the JSU said, “This is a crucial time for solidarity in safeguarding our identity, so that the Jaintia people are neither removed, erased, nor merged with another community.”
