By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The lack of sufficient time to discuss various issues concerning the state prompted the Opposition to seek extension of House session till 5 pm on Thursday.
The Business Advisory Committee has fixed only three-day session from September 5, which according to the Opposition members was too short.
Lakhmen Rymbui, who was chairing the session in the absence of the Speaker Charles Pyngrope, disallowed the extension demand.
Earlier, lack of quorum in the State Assembly had compelled the Assembly Speaker to adjourn the House for 15 minutes on Thursday.
Only nine members were present in the House at that time.
The House was adjourned at the time when HSPDP legislator Hopingstone Lyngdoh was participating in the discussion on the motion moved by UDP legislator Ardent M Basiawmoit.
After the House resumed, the leader of Opposition Conrad Sangma expressed serious concern over the lack of quorum in the House.
To prevent recurrence of similar situation in the future, Sangma appealed to the Assembly Speaker to set some kind ratio by taking into account the number of members both from the Opposition and Treasury Bench.
While rejecting the proposal of Sangma, the Speaker said that it is for the Rules Committee to decide whether there is a need to have such kind of ratio.
Assembly Speaker insisted that since the day is reserved for the private members’ business it is the responsibility of each and every member to ensure that the quorum in the House is maintained.
Later, Opposition Leader requested the Assembly Speaker to extend the sitting of the House till 5 pm since there were many motions and resolutions pending.
Finally, when independent legislator Manas Chaudhuri was moving a motion on influx, Rymbui said, “Since the Speaker has not issued any directive to extend the session he has no other option but to adjourn the House for the day.”
