Shillong, March 20: The Voice of the People’s Party (VPP) walked out of Meghalaya Assembly today as a mark of protest against the Governor Phagu Chauhan to delivering his customary address in Hindi on the first day of the Budget Session.
VPP legislator from Nongkrem, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said that the Government of India cannot imposed language on the people of the State. Basaiawmoit said that Meghalaya is not a Hindi-speaking State.
Stating that it is against the sentiments of the people of the State, he said that the people of the State won’t accept a language to be imposed on them.
Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma said such kind of behaviour from an elected member (VPP legislator) was not expected in the House.
Assembly Speaker, Thomas A Sangma said that he would allowed the Governor to address the House in Hindi since a written speech in English was circulated among all the members.
However, NPP legislator and Health Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh said that it is important to make sure that the Government of India knows that the people of the State do not understand Hindi.
Reacting to Governor, Phagu Chauhan addressing the House in Hindi, she said that they were finding difficult to follow the language that was spoken even though a written speech in English was provided to them.
According to her, it is important to consistently pursue with the Government of India that the indigenous people of the state are a non-Hindi speaking community.
She further said that it is important to understand the inability of Meghalaya to speak and communicate in Hindi.
