SHILLONG, MAR 20: Meghalaya assembly speaker AT Mondal rejected the adjournment motion moved by UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh who sought to discuss the sweeping remarks made by Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma dubbing the state media as ‘publicity houses of terrorist organizations’ and accused of favouring only ‘paid news.’
Most of the local newspapers have carried a blank editorial to protest against Sangma’s sweeping remarks and have demanded that he withdrew the remarks. The Meghalaya Editors and Publishers Association –MEPA- has carried a blank editorial on Friday protesting against the remarks and said that the chief minister should withdrew the remark to ensure a cordial relationship between the state government and the media.
The Shillong Press Club also issued a statement some days ago saying that the chief minister’s remark is in bad taste.
On Friday Lyngdoh move the adjournment motion seeking to discuss Marak’s media remark but was turned down by Mondal who said, “I am not admitting the adjourn motion.” He also pointed out the lapses on Paul Lyngdoh’s part as he informed that the motion which was received very late and will be against the rules to admit.
Mondal told the house, “Subject to the provision of the Constitution, rules and standing orders regulating the procedure of the legislature, there shall be freedom of speech on the legislature of every state and no member state shall be liable to any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or report given by him in legislature or any committee thereof.”
Stating that the adjournment motion sought to raise a question of privilege against a member of the legislature (in this case the chief minister), Mondal quoted Rule 57 sub-rule 7 to prevent any such attempt.
Rejecting it the argument that it is a matter of privileges, Lyngdoh, said, “It is a matter of public importance where I thought it would be in the fitness of things that the chief minister who is the leader of this house clarifies the statement that he had made on the floor of this house.”
Lyngdoh said, “Certain remarks have caused unnecessary heartburn amongst the members of the fourth estate.”
Defending his statement, chief minister Mukul Sangma said, “The chief minister is being attempted to be gagged,” adding that such move will ‘go against the legislators’ rights and privileges which is against the provisions of the constitutions itself’.
Referring to proposed move of state government to come up with a law, Sangma questioned that when the government proposed to make any law had it not been accommodative of inviting the views of all.
Sangma said that when he as chief minister referred the need to probably come up with legislation it doesn’t mean government wants to ‘gag anybody. He said the government is only intending to actually come up if there is a need for any such legislation to regulate.
Sangma said that the adjournment motion is an attempt to gag him adding “The CM is being attempted to be gag. This means I have to be very careful in my reply, less somebody will come with a memorandum and asked the members of the opposition to move an adjournment motion.”
Sangma also appealed to not create precedence by moving such a motion which will go against the legislators own rights and privileges and against the provisions of the constitutions itself.
Reiterating that every member of the house enjoys the privilege based on the mandate of the constitution, Sangma said, “If there is an attempt to actually gag any members of this august house, it amounts to breach of privilege.”
Sangma said actually he has the right to actually move the breach of privilege motion and questioned that whenever legislator speak does it mean that somebody will come and say ‘no you have to withdraw.’– By Our Reporter
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