SHILLONG, March 11: The Meghalaya Assembly on Thursday witnessed an exchange of words on the issue of relaxation of the upper age limit for recruitment to various government jobs.
The heated exchange followed North Shillong MLA, Adelbert Nongrum’s insistence on the government taking note of the issue despite Chief Minister Conrad Sangma making it clear that the matter was being examined. Nongrum had raised a question supplementary to one by UDP’s Mookaiaw legislator, Nujorki Sungoh.
“I am serious about this issue and I want everyone to be serious as well. We cannot play with the lives of the future generation,” Nongrum said in a heavy tone, making Conrad request the Speaker to restrain the MLA.
“We all are serious… He is doing this every time. Ask him to pose the questions properly. No need to be melodramatic here. Respect the House,” a visibly annoyed Chief Minister said as Nongrum continued to speak.
Nongrum shot back, saying he was aware they were legislators and not actors in a drama house. Before he could complete the sentence, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong called for a point of order.
“I would like to appeal and request each and every member of this august House to leave aside your emotions when you ask questions. We are not here to display our emotions. We are here to share the concerns of everybody in the interest of the state. I cannot stand with this anymore,” Tynsong said.
An enraged Nongrum yelled that the state government has been “fooling around” during every session, reminding the House that he had posed the question in the last session, too.
At this point, Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh intervened and requested Nongrum to take his seat which he did, albeit reluctantly.
“Whenever you ask a question do so in a polite manner. All the members are serious while discussing the matter. The government can respond to a few things and they cannot for some others. We can’t expect that whatever is asked will be done,” the Speaker said.
The Speaker observed that the chief minister’s reply reflected the state government’s seriousness about the issue.
Nongrum apologised and toned down. “In the last session, I had asked the same question – whether the government will relax the upper age limit for Grade 1-4 posts and the reply was no. But when it comes to MCS and MPS jobs, they say it is under examination, which is a contradiction.”
“May I seek clarity on whether the word examination is a serious word or was it used to please everybody?” Nongrum asked.
“When we give a reply in the House, it is meant to be serious. We are accountable to the House and the people of the state. We cannot give any statement when we are not serious,” the chief minister replied.
Requesting the members not to come up with such statements, Conrad said, “We are ready to give answers and commitments when it is meant to be given, and when a matter needs to be examined, we say that we need to examine it.”
Elaborating, he said, “When we say we need to examine a matter, it means that the government needs to study the pros and cons before taking the next step.”
“This is the third time I am mentioning it and I request the member to listen to the reply and accordingly pose questions,” he added.