By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The FKJGP has opposed the decision of the Congress and its allies to propose the name of AT Mondal for the Speaker’s post, for which the election will be held on Monday.
“The decision is totally unjustified given that Meghalaya is a tribal State and there are 59 tribal MLAs in the present House, who are eligible for the post,” FKJGP president Jo Marwein said in a letter addressed to MPCC president DD Lapang on Saturday.
While stating that the FKJGP is fully aware that the post of the Speaker is a constitutional one which upholds the basic tenets of parliamentary democracy, the letter added that the same ‘does not grant any political party the right to disrespect the sentiment of majority of the tribal people of Meghalaya.’
The FKJGP president pointed out that since the Speaker of the Assembly is bound by duty to represent the State in various
parliamentary forums/conferences etc. both nationally and internationally, it does not bode well for a tribal State like Meghalaya, if in such forums, a non-tribal Speaker represents the State.