SHILLONG, FEB 27: The Opposition in the Assembly on Tuesday staged a walkout as a mark of protest against alleged violation of rules.
Raising a point of order during the last day of the budget session, opposition Congress legislator from Umsning Celestine Lyngdoh said the statement of the chief minister Conrad K Sangma, who is also incharge 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.
“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.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,” he said.
Lyngdoh has requested the Speaker to expunge the words used by him that they are wasting time and to rectify by correcting the ‘misleading’ statement f the chief minister that last Friday was for supplementary demands were voted that is actually wrong and need to be corrected.
Members of the three opposition political parties staged a walkout in protest against failure of the government to rectify the mistake.
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 House has adopted has agreed.”
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 works that is happening in the state.
“From what I understanding they are finding reason not to be hear 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 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 precedence.”
“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 wicket ways then will I hear and will forgive sin and will heal their land. Even God listen to our prayers. I am definitely sure that the chair will listen to this for correction less it becomes a precedence,” he added.
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.”