SHILLONG, OCT 4: Opposition leader and United Democratic Party (UDP) president Donkupar Roy accused assembly speaker AT Mondal of siding with the government as the latter disallowed the adjournment motion sought by the opposition Meghalaya Parliamentary Forum (MPF) seeking to discuss the demanded of the ngos for introduction of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the law and order arising out of it.
“It seems that the speaker disallowed the adjournment motion on the direction of the state government,” opposition leader Donkupar Roy told reporters after staging a walkout on Friday.
Earlier, the opposition MPF members had sought a discussion on the the ILP issue and derailment of law and order situation through an adjournment motion which was promptly denied by Mondal.
Roy said that the speaker is aware of the current situation as the state for the past one month is going through a phase of agitations called by the ngos. He said, “We have witness a lot of burning down of vehicles and offices which has affected the state and so there is a scope for discussion on this through an adjournment motion.”
Citing rules, Roy said, “Rule is clear that we can move the adjournment motion on issues relating to urgent importance but the speaker seems to follow government direction by not allowing us to do so.”
Referring to the ruling by former speaker EK Mawlong on December 15, 1998 stating that ‘matters that have been raised in the form of calling attention notice, short notice, questions, and others cannot be raised through an adjournment motion,’ speaker Mondal had said, “But despite all this, I have admitted the issue in two forms including resolution and question.”
Reacting to the allegation of the opposition that he is partisan, Mondal defended by saying that he abided by the book and as per the book he had given his ruling on the matter, He said, “If I am working as a partisan or if I am averse to the issue, I would have rejected the resolution and also the question. But I have accepted both.”
With regards to the behaviour of the members of the opposition, Mondal however said, “The behaviour is highly unwarranted and avoidable.”
Meanwhile, chief minister Mukul Sangma said that the opposition bench has failed to do their homework by not setting their priorities. He said, “From the way and manner they have done is nothing but a political gimmick.
Sangma felt that if the opposition was serious enough, they should have call for a meeting for discussion and direct all the opposition members that they will do only this (ILP). But it shows that they have decided only two – three days before the assembly a reflection that they have failed to do their homework, he said.
Sangma questioned, “If there were no urgency from the side of the opposition to even decide which issues they should prioritize then how are they justifying this kind of behaviour inside the house.”
According to Sangma, the ruling of the speaker is clear that an adjournment motion is actually admitted only when there has been no attempt by any member of the august house raise the issue in any other form.
Sangma therefore concluded by saying that the opposition didn’t bother how to strategize and added, “If they thought that the issue is to be discuss today then why did they move for a resolution and questions.”- By Our Reporter
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