SHILLONG: The Opposition has got caught in its own web by moving a no confidence motion against Speaker AT Mondal for not giving sufficient time to discuss issues of public importance.
Many of the questions, motions and even cut motions lapsed since the concerned legislators were missing from the House since the last few days.
Opposition members James Sangma (NPP), Witting Mawsor(HSPDP), John Leslee Sangma (Ind) and Jemno Mawthoh (UDP) had moved the No Confidence motion against the Speaker.
Among several of the absentee Opposition MLAs, the prominent were Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy and NPP legislator James K Sangma. Roy and Sangma were absent from the House on both Friday and Monday.
Though Roy was present in the morning hours on Thursday, his motion on the dissolution of the present House of KHADC in view of the frequent shifting of allegiance of the MDCs lapsed since he was absent during the afternoon session and the crucial motion could not be taken up for discussion in the House.
Many questions moved by the Opposition leader also lapsed due to his absence from the House on Friday and Monday.
Interestingly, not a single cut motion on the supplementary demands for grants was taken up for discussion on Monday since James Sangma who had moved majority of the cut motions was absent.
The cut motions included issues like excessive loan liability under power sector, mismanagement of salaries under public works department, issues concerning home guard volunteers, excessive and unnecessary political appointments, unnecessary expenditure on disbanding ceremony of a militant group, and ADB funded project on human resource development among others.
Strangely, UDP legislator Jemino Mawthoh did not move his cut motion on loan liability under power sector, which he had moved jointly with James Sangma despite being present in the House.
The NPP legislator had also moved a zero hour notice on the brutal killing of four policemen by suspected GNLA militants on Monday. This matter could not be taken up since he remained absent.
Reacting to the trend, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said raising any issue on the floor of the House requires a lot of homework.
The Chief Minister also drew attention to the irony of the Opposition moving a No Confidence motion against the Speaker while the members themselves missed the sessions. “The Assembly session provides an opportunity to all members to take up issues and address the concerns of various stakeholders and draw attention of the Government on matters including the current or long pending contentious issues and accordingly utilize the time available to all the members,” he said.
The Chief Minister further said, “If they are not utilizing the time given, then it would be better to ask them (Opposition) the reason.”
