Leader of Opposition in the Meghalaya Assembly, Mukul M. Sangma, emphasized the need for a sensitive and balanced approach regarding the Meghalaya State Reservation Policy during a discussion on the Expert Committee’s report. He highlighted the repeated raising of the issue both within the Assembly and informally over the years, urging lawmakers to carefully interpret constitutional provisions, describing it as a “tightrope walk.” Sangma expressed gratitude to the state’s founding leaders for their balanced decisions at the state’s inception, which protected the interests of the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo tribes while allowing for a 15% open merit category. He warned that focusing solely on statistical analysis could perpetuate endless debates, advocating for an understanding of the spirit behind past unanimous decisions. He also noted the importance of government employees in governance and stressed that Articles 16(4) and 16(4B) should be read in conjunction with Articles 16(1) and 16(2) to maintain constitutional balance, cautioning that the roles of the Judiciary, Legislature, and Parliament should not be taken for granted.