TURA: The much anticipated discussion on the motion moved against non-tribal participation in the district council elections that had been expected to witness verbal fireworks between the ruling NPP led alliance and the opposition benches ended on a whimper after the two day GHADC session was adjourned sine die without the issue being taken up.
There were accusations and counter accusations from both sides over the adjournment of the house.
Chief Executive Member Denang T Sangma accused the opposition benches, which included the Congress, of deliberately boycotting the session even after the demand by Tura MDC for a motion on non-tribal participation had been allowed in the house for discussion. “They (opposition) had threatened to boycott the two day budget session unless their motion was tabled for discussion in the house. We allowed the motion to be tabled and today was the discussion, but the opposition benches boycott the proceedings and left the house before it could be taken up,” the CEM alleged.
However, the opposition benches have a different take on the issue.
“We had only boycotted the question hour today because the chairman of the house was acting in a biased manner and not allowing supplementary questions to be raised. We had planned to return to the house for the discussion on the motion when we learnt that it had already been adjourned sine die,” said Tura MDC Rupert Sangma.
Chairman of the district council, Boston Ch Marak, said that all legislative formalities and rules were followed during the two day session and accused the opposition of ‘false’ accusation.
“I went by the rule book and followed the procedure. When the time came for the motion the mover (Rupert Sangma) was found absent. I called for his participation but he did not turn up. The entire opposition benches were empty. It is there in the records,” said the chairman.
Echoing the GHADC chairman, CEM Denang T Sangma said the opposition benches had in their possession the business agenda of the day.
“They were well aware that after the voting on grants the motion was to be taken up. But they were absent from the house. Only they can give the reason for their absence,” he said.
In the meantime, the opposition Garo Hills United Alliance has threatened to move the Meghalaya Governor demanding the removal of the Council chairman. They allege that he has acted in support of the ruling NPP executive committee by disallowing a Congress MDC from raising a point of order.
According to the opposition side, Rongram MDC Ismail Marak had on Wednesday raised a point of order and sought a clarification which was disallowed by the chairman which led to the walkout by the opposition benches.
Interestingly, while the ruling NPP alliance had all its 14 MDCs present during the last day of the budget session, there were two members from the opposition bench who failed to turn up.
Independent MDCs, Mark Goera B Marak of Batabari constituency and Sofior Rahman of Balachanda were found absent on Thursday bringing down the opposition tally to 11 before the boycott of question hour took place.
