SHILLONG: The 10th Assembly session on Monday witnessed a mélange of languages with two legislators speaking in Khasi, a Garo legislator uttering a few lines in Garo while the rest spoke in English.
Congress legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh and Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) member Adelbert Nongrum, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Saleng Sangma spoke in their mother tongue although Sangma spoke just a few lines in Garo.
Lyngdoh expressed joy for getting the opportunity to speak in Khasi which is for the first time in the history of Meghalaya Assembly.
Meanwhile, Nongrum spoke few lines in English before speaking at length about the Governor’s address.
He said, “I don’t have any objection but it is really upsetting. It disappoints me that it happened the very first time since the predecessors use English as an official language…. This maybe a hidden agenda, the Governor may know better.”
He told reporters on Friday after the Governor’s address that he would speak in Khasi while debating on the Governor’s address.
Surprisingly, he intermittently used both English and Khasi words while debating on the Governor’s address. Although, he translated some of the English words he used into Khasi.
Taking cue from the Khasi speakers, Sangma sought the Speaker, Donkupar Roy’s permission to speak a few lines in Garo which he would translate into English. He was permitted by Roy.
After uttering few lines in Garo language, he said, “I don’t want to say any further. It is like having a competition in the House.”
He added that there was entry of foreign entity to disrupt the peace and tranquility which is disintegrating the unity of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people.
He said, “Just because he does not speak English does not mean that we will have to follow in his footsteps. Brotherhood seems to be getting away from each other which will not be a good thing.”
“Sad to see we have differences already, the disease has spread which is not good,” Sangma added.
HSPDP MLA, Renikton Tongkhar said it is better to communicate in English which is understood by everyone but called upon the members to respect each other.
Stating that he speaks in broken English and was looking forward to learn English from Ampareen Lyngdoh who spoke in Khasi, he said it would be a loss if she continues to speak in Khasi.
Congress legislator Charles Pyngrope said as he went through the Rules (of conduct in the House), and there is provision that enables the members and Governor to address in their own language.
“It should not be construed that some members are against such decision,” he said. He recalled that there was meeting of the Rules Committee which will allow members to speak in the language they are comfortable with.
“There was paucity of members who could not articulate their feelings as they were not proficient in English language,” Pyngrope said.