SHILLONG, March 20: Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma defended Governor Phagu Chauhan’s decision to address the Assembly in Hindi during the first day of the Budget Session on Monday.
“We have had occasions in the past where the Governor had not addressed the House in English. The reason for the Governor not addressing the House in English is because of the limitations in terms of fluency of being able to speak or read,” Sangma said reacting to the protest of the four VPP legislators who staged a walkout.
He said this kind of situation is normal as India is a diverse country. He said it is important to understand that Governors are sometimes from states which are more Hindi-speaking.
“Governors in the past had also requested that they be allowed to speak in a language or read in a language that they are comfortable with. It is for this reason that the Governor, due to his limitations with English, requested to be allowed to read in Hindi. The English version of the Governor’s address was placed in the House for the members to refer to and read,” Sangma said.
Lamenting what happened in the House, he said one should not take it lightly, stating “a certain level of respect and decorum needs to be maintained in the House, especially when the Governor is going through his address.”
According to him, a wrong precedent was being set by showing disrespect to the chair of the Governor. He said the Governor speaking a different language does not mean he is disrespecting the House or local sentiments or local language.
Sangma said the sense of patriotism and love for one’s own people does not get stronger just by hitting others or making comments like one cannot speak a certain language.
“It does not strengthen your patriotism. It just creates negativity which is not healthy at all in our society,” he said.
He said this is not the kind of culture that they would like to see, especially in the Assembly.
Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh said there is no question of imposing Hindi, considered the official language of the country. He said although the Governor addressed the House in Hindi, the speech translated into English was placed on the table of every member.
“His speech was totally covered by the written text,” Lyngdoh said quoting rules of the Business of the Conduct of Assembly which state that a member can make submission in his mother tongue provided the translated copy of the speech is made available to the members.
Lyngdoh also stated that reading a speech is far better than listening to a speech as it can be better internalized.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Mukul Sangma recalled the House had witnessed similar protests in the past.
“The purpose is to invoke a sense of realization pertaining to the huge diversity that the nation has,” Sangma said.
Asked if the TMC should have also joined the protests, he said there are many ways to approach an issue such as this.
Replying to a query whether it important for the Centre to choose a Governor for Meghalaya who can communicate in English, he said it is most important to show a sense and honest appreciation of the huge diversity that the nation has from a linguistic, cultural and religion perspective.
It also depends on how political parties respond to a given situation, he added.
The former CM said the VPP conveyed its sentiments and whatever submission its president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit made in the House was self-explanatory.
Reacting to the controversy, Congress Legislature Party leader Ronnie V Lyngdoh said, “He (Basaiawmoit) has a point. Normally, the conduct of business in the House is in English but there is also a provision that with prior notice, anybody can deliberate in his or her mother tongue as long as the translated copy of the speech is made available.”
“In this case, the Governor circulated his speech in English and since the Governor is the constitutional head of the state and not conversant in English, I think Basaiawmoit could have taken it up with the Speaker after the Governor’s address,” he said.
UDP general secretary, Jemino Mawthoh lamented the disruption of the Assembly proceedings and termed the development as “unfortunate”.
“If you look at it from the point of view of people, they would prefer a language they can communicate in but the Assembly is also a forum where you are given the opportunity to express your views in any language,” Mawthoh said, adding connection with the people is necessary and “if majority of the people in the state do not understand Hindi, then I think whoever speaks in the Assembly should also think about it”.
