Newmai News Network
Shillong: The Opposition in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly today staged a walkout as a mark of protest against voting of demand for grants before the finance minister’s reply on the budget discussion.
Raising a point of order during the last day of the budget session, opposition Congress legislator from Umsning, Celestine Lyngdoh said chief minister Conrad K Sangma’s statement (who is also in-charge of finance) that voting on demand for grants that was done on last Friday was for supplementary demand is absolutely wrong since the supplementary demands were done on February 21.
Also read | Manipur Congress proposes one-day special Assembly session on state’s crisis
“If we say voting for demand for grants can be done before the finance minister’s reply then the reply of the finance minister at the end of the budget discussion becomes redundant,” he said while adding, “I want this House to follow the rules. If the House is not following the rules, what is the point for us to sit here and listen.”
Lyngdoh had requested the Speaker to expunge the words used by him that “they are wasting time and to rectify by correcting the ‘misleading’ statement of the chief minister that last Friday was for supplementary demands were voted that is actually wrong and needs to be corrected.”
“If they have voted for the main budget for this year last Friday then we have crossed beyond the provisions of the rules, ” he further stated.
Lyngdoh’s point of order was supported by the All India Trinamool Congress (or TMC) and Voice of the People Party (VPP).
Also read | Manipur Legislative Assembly goes digital: CM Biren launches National e-Vidhan application
Giving his ruling, Speaker Thomas A Sangma said, “It was not my intention to say this House has wasted its time. Actually because of the time constraint as time is limited so I ask not to say unnecessary things and to come straight to the point. However, I stand corrected and the words wasting of time will be expunged.”
“However, to the second issue the calendar has been finalised in the BAC that has been placed in the House on the first day when the house sat for business on February 16 and it was approved by this House. As per rule, suspension of the rules can be moved by the parliamentary affairs but as I have already given the ruling so my ruling is final,” he stated.
Not satisfied with the ruling of the Speaker, members of the three opposition political parties staged a walkout in protest against failure of the government to rectify the mistake.
“The ruling is not very clear, we are not satisfied so the opposition members have no role to sit here and waste their time (since) the reply of the finance minister is redundant,” Lyngdoh said while leading the members out of the House.
Also read | Manipur: 8 Naga intending candidates for Lok Sabha polls attend UNC’s consultative meeting
Defending the treasury bench, deputy chief minister in-charge parliamentary affairs Prestone Tynsong said, “Your (Speaker)ruling is very clear. First day itself we have placed this (calendar) in the BAC and the House has agreed.”
When Mukul, while standing to join the rest of the opposition members stated that the walkout was as a token of protest and disapproval, Tynsong said, “Then the opposition is making a fool of themselves. This calendar has been approved by the house on the first day of the session. How can we again go back.”
Terming the opposition’s action as unfortunate, chief minister Conrad K Sangma said the opposition members are making issues out of something where they themselves were part of the decision when the House accepted the calendar proposed by the BAC.
He also accused the opposition members of not wanting to listen to his reply on the budget discussion after seeing the kind of work that is happening in the state.
Also read | The traditional lion headdress of the Tangkhul Nagas in India and Burma; a close up look
“From what I understand they are finding reasons not to be here to listen to the reply, which is unfortunate as I said these are very important matters. A budget speech and reply would be focusing on many aspects nonetheless it is their decision and the entire state is watching,” the CM stated.
Earlier while supporting the issue, former chief minister Mukul Sangma said, “We need to correct things. i think correcting things is very crucial otherwise what is wrong will be considered as right and what is abnormal will be considered as normal which is dangerous and should not be a precedent.”
“Even the Lord listens to the prayers of the sinners. It is written If my people who are called in my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear and will forgive sin and will heal their land. Even God listens to our prayers. I am definitely sure that the chair will listen to this for correction less it becomes a precedent,” he added.
Also read | Nagaland Guv La Ganesan: Naga issue impairs development; calls for dialogue, compromise
Echoing similar concern, VPP legislator from Nongkrem Ardent M Basaiawmoit said, “We expect that there will be a cooperation from all stakeholders so that we can maintain the highest decorum…we expect that the chair would admit its mistake and ensure this will not happen in the future.”
This is not a Ukhrul Times publication. UT is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse its content. Any reports or views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of Ukhrul Times.
About The Author
