The Government of Meghalaya has issued a strong response to the opposition Voice of the People Party’s (VPP) eight-point demand charter, defending its policies related to land use, recruitment, environmental regulation and border security.The government accused critics of spreading misinformation and said its decisions were based on legal procedures, environmental safeguards and transparency measures rather than “political sloganeering.”Responding to concerns over the controversial Lum Pongdeng project, the government clarified that the ecologically sensitive island had already been removed from the concession agreement. It stated that no permanent construction would be allowed and ownership of the land would remain with the state.
On the issue of teachers and recruitment, the government said the Teacher Eligibility Test requirement was mandated under central laws and Supreme Court directives. Authorities added that several Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test examinations, guidebooks and a review petition had been introduced to support affected candidates.Rejecting allegations of political interference in recruitment, the government highlighted reforms including OMR-based examinations, automated application screening, public disclosure of marks and grievance redressal systems.
The government also defended its handling of border security and illegal influx, stating that several check posts, police stations and surveillance measures were operational. It further claimed that hundreds of foreign nationals had been identified and deported in recent years.