Opp lists issues to corner Sangma govt; whip issued to ruling legislators
SHILLONG: The autumn session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly beginning Friday is set to be a stormy one as the Opposition is looking to corner the Government by moving a no confidence motion against Speaker AT Mondal.
UDP MLA Jemino Mawthoh said the Opposition decided in a meeting on Thursday to support the no confidence motion moved by Daddengre MLA James Sangma.
Opposition Leader Donkupar Roy made it clear that while the party will support the motion, it would not encourage any personal attack on the Speaker.
Though not part of the UDP-NPP led Opposition Meghalaya People’s Front, the HSPDP has also decided to support the motion.
However, the government is poised to defeat the no-confidence motion moved by the Opposition as a three-line whip has been issued to 30 Congress legislators and those who support the coalition.
Two legislators from NPP and eleven Independents are supporting the Congress led government.
Besides, the Opposition, during the week-long session, will raise the issues of spiralling crime against women, the recent narcotics haul in the city and the State’s financial crisis.
The UDP will also flag the issue of ownership and distribution of land as the party “does not want people to get alienated from their land”, said Mawthoh, adding, “We are scrambling for space in the state.”
It is also set to take up the issue of urban governance, absence of a comprehensive policy as far as demarcation of urban and rural areas is concerned, traffic problem and ill-managed waste disposal, among others.
Earlier, NPP legislator James Sangma had said that various shortcomings of the Congress led MUA-II government will be raised during the session. He had also demanded tabling of GHADC scam report.
Meanwhile, the State Assembly will adopt a resolution for ratifying the Constitution (122nd Amendment) (GST) Bill, 2014, in the Assembly session. The Select Committee headed by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma will also place its recommendations on the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Bill, 2016. The Government will also move an amendment to enhance the corpus fund of the State.
The first day of the five-day session on Friday will have Government business in which Bills will be introduced, besides laying of ordinances, orders and notifications. The supplementary demands for grants and supplementary appropriation 2016-17 will also be laid down.
As the State has declared September 13 as holiday for Bakr-Eid, all the business listed for the day will be taken up on September 12, which will be a private members’ business day.
September 14 will be Government business day and there will be voting on supplementary demands. The next day (September 15) will again be a private members’ business day and Bills, if any, resolutions and motions will be discussed.
On the last day of the session, there will be voting on supplementary demands, besides introduction, consideration and passing of the Meghalaya Appropriation Bill, 2016. Other Government Bills will also be considered and passed on the last day of the session.