‘War of words’ among Mukul, James, Prestone
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Like the previous years, this time too, the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly witnessed a heated argument between Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma and NPP MLA James Sangma.
The ‘war of words’ between the Chief Minister and the Opposition member (James) erupted when he wanted to move a zero hour notice regarding the power scenario in Garo Hills and its ill-effects on the students who are appearing for the Board exams.
However, the motion was not allowed to be taken up by Speaker AT Mondal by saying that the Chief Minister had already given a suo moto statement in the House on Wednesday.
Mondal also said that since there is already a call attention motion tabled by Clifford Marak, the discussion cannot be allowed.
To this stand, the MLA continuously asked the Speaker to change his decision and allow him to raise the issue of power disruption in Garo Hills.
Irked with the continuous demand of James, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prestone Tynsong stood up and said that all the MLAs must go by the rules and procedures of the Assembly.
He also raised the book related to the rules and procedures of the House and asked the legislator to follow the rules.
After hearing Tynsong, James became further agitated and said that the minister is tutoring the Speaker.
“I am also surprised to know that the book is more important than the people of our state”, James said, while adding that Tynsong was not fit to be a legislator.
In reply, Tynsong asked James to behave properly in the House.
Soon, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma also rose from the seat and said, “We have not seen this kind of behaviour and this Assembly does not belong to one MLA.”
However, James shot back, saying “This Assembly belongs to the people.”
Later, the Speaker said that the arguments of the legislators will not be included as official proceedings.
The previous Assembly sessions, too, had witnessed heated arguments between Dr Mukul Sangma and the then NCP leaders Conrad Sangma and James Sangma.
However, now since Conrad Sangma is not present in the Assembly, James Sangma is continuing to be vocal when it comes to important issues that need to be discussed in the Assembly.