SHILLONG, March 4: The first day of the budget session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on Friday witnessed the government introducing as many as four bills even as the House paid rich tributes to 17 leaders who lost their lives in the course of the last few months.
The government tabled the Meghalaya Compulsory Registration of Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2022, the Meghalaya Settlement of Arrears under State Taxation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, the Registration Meghalaya (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the Meghalaya Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Parliamentary Affairs, Prestone Tynsong moved in pursuance of Rule 244 (1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to elect one member of the House to fill up the vacancy in the committee on estimates cost due to the demise of former Mawphlang MLA, SK Sunn.
The Commissioner and Secretary of the Assembly will notify the date and time of holding the election.
Speaking during the obituary reference on Friday, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, “In the last six months we have lost, both in the state as well as the national level, more than 17 great sons of the soils and leaders who had contributed immensely to their state and the nation.”
“Out of the 17, I would like to specifically mention about DR BB Dutta who not only politically contributed to the state but also had close ties with my father. He was a teacher to my father in college and they had worked together in the same political party for a long time. He was someone dear to all of us.”
The CM also remembered the contributions of former Union Minister, Oscar Fernandes and said his demise is a loss to not just his family and his party but to the society.
Sangma also recalled the contributions made by former Lok Sabha member from Meghalaya, Dr BR Kharlukhi and former minister, NB Sangma, besides other leaders from the country.
“On behalf of this House I would like to convey my deepest condolences to the bereaved families of all 17 great leaders, especially the leaders from our state,” he added.
Opposition leader, Mukul Sangma condoled the demise of a number of distinguished leaders and said they were all stalwarts who had contributed immensely in their respective capacities for the uplift of the people and development of their respective states and nation.
Mukul said he had known BB Dutta since his student days and when he started his political innings in 1993.
“He counselled young politicians like us hand-held us in dealing with a number of issues confronting the people, the state and the region,” Mukul said, fondly recalling his association with Dutta and the contributions made by the latter.