SHILLONG, JULY 8: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday assured to take a decision on the alleged “unruly behavior” of cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai towards the Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh during the recent visit of NDA presidential nominee Draupadi Murmu to the state.
This came a day after the United Democratic Party (UDP) had demanded the BJP and leader of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) to take action against Shullai.
Sangma told reporters that he had met the Assembly Speaker, who had also communicated about the decision taken by the UDP.
“I have told them that I have definitely taken note of this and as and when we will move forward and take appropriate action as and when necessary. I have given an assurance that I will definitely look into the matter,” he said.
Stating that he was also present when the incident happened, the Chief Minister said that the Speaker had raised issues concerning many sections of society.
“It was appropriate to raise these issues in front of a presidential candidate because she would be in a position in the near future to be able to keep those issues in mind and take appropriate action so it was very appropriate for the Assembly Speaker to raise those concerns. But while those concerns were being raised, there was a reaction from one of the MLAs, Sanbor Shullai of the BJP,” he said.
“But on an occasion or in a meeting like that where they are garnering support for their candidature and being a BJP nominated candidate, it was not appropriate for the reaction that we saw that day by the minister. So it was a very inappropriate behavior. I have to add that it was not correct, especially in front of the presidential candidate. It did not look nice to do that,” he added.
Asked on what kind of action he would take against the cabinet minister, the chief minister said, “We will convene (the MDA meeting) to finalize on the voting which would take place on July 18 but apart from that this particular issue I will take appropriate decision at the right time.”
Sangma said the BJP had invited the MLAs to the meeting for garnering support to the NDA presidential candidate and that he had attended the same as the national president of the NPP.
He added that the UDP MLAs were also invited by the BJP and the question of raising the issue as MDA was not there as right now there is election and every party has the right to raise its concerns.
“There are no problems and issues in raising concerns because that is the highest office in the country and it is appropriate for us as voters for that particular election to raise concerns and that is what the Speaker as a UDP president had done and I think the action was very inappropriate,” he said.
Whether the incident only indicated that everything is not well within the MDA, the chief minister however said one individual has stood up when the Speaker spoke but as I said the moment and the timing and the presence of the people who were there was inappropriate to have raised it.
“Otherwise there are many incidents we have raised concerns, we argue, we debate, we don’t agree on decision together that is how coalition works and since we are in different parties, it is a natural process for a coalition to discuss, to debate and to argue on many things but we have always come to a conclusion that whatever the debate takes place, we will always be together and that’s how it has been,” he stated.
On another allegation that Shullai had similarly reacted in his office chamber, the chief minister said there were instances where cabinet ministers have differences in my decision “but whatever is discussed in private with me or with any individuals be it MLAs or a party leader or any citizen of the state that is between the individual and me. I don’t think it is appropriate for me to share that unless it was done in public like it was done that day then it is not appropriate and that too in front of the presidential candidate.”
By Our Reporter
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