By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Opposition on Friday questioned the State Government rationale for the shortest-ever budget session in the history of Meghalaya and demanded its extension beyond mere 11 working days.
While criticizing the State Government, NCP legislator John Manner Marak, said that the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) has no authority to increase the days of the session, Marak said that the BAC’s role is to fix the list of business as per the number of days allotted by the Government.
He furnished comparative figures on the number of days where the budget session was held in the past five years to buttress his argument. According to him, there were 22 working days in 2005, 18 days in 2006, 22 days in 2007, 20 days in 2008, 31 days in 2009 and 17 days in 2010.
Opposition Leader Conrad K Sangma expressed surprise that only one and half days is being reserved for the debates on both the Governor’ Address and also on the Budget.
“I do not think the time given is enough. It has always been found that the members have to cut short on their speech due to the time constraints,” Sangma said while also expressed his unhappiness with only two days being reserve for the private member business.
“With so many motions and resolutions to be taken, I do not think two days time is enough. I remember in the last budget session even four days were reserved for the private members’ business but still there are many motions or resolutions which could not be taken up,” the Opposition Leader said.
Independent legislator Manas Chaudhuri said, “I know it would be difficult for the officers if there is an extension of the budget session since they would be very busy as we are reaching end part of this fiscal year.
He however suggested that there can be extension of the sitting beyond 2 pm everday to accommodate time for taking up urgent public matters.
In his reply, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma disagreed with the demand of the Opposition saying that such a demand has not merits since there are many times where the house had to be adjourned ahead of the allotted time.
Dr Sangma refuted NCP allegation that the Government was trying to bulldoze while fixing the calendar for the session.
“I had consulted the Assembly Speaker before fixing the days of the session,” the Chief Minister added.
Later Speaker Charles Pyngrope also confirmed the same.