By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 25: After the roster system stole the limelight on Friday’s session of the Assembly and the opposition seemingly left without a voice due to the adjournment, UDP’s Mawkyrwat legislator, Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar said he will write to Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma to carry over the motion on the roster system to the next session of the House.
“I will be handing over the letter requesting to carry over the motion by Monday,” Tongkhar, the mover of the motion, said.
He further said that many members of the House were disappointed after not being able to discuss the motion as the Speaker did not extend the House session.
“The business of the House on a Friday should end by 12 noon as per rules and procedures of conduct of business. But the Speaker has discretion to extend the sitting beyond the stipulated time,” Tongkhar, who is also a former minister, said.
He disclosed that he had met Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and discussed the matter.
“I requested the CM to be more flexible as far as the implementation of the roster system is concerned. The provision of the reservation policy for jobs was not strictly followed in the past. Only the spirit of the policy was adopted,” Tongkhar claimed.
He urged the youth not to be disappointed, stating the UDP will ensure that the motion is debated in the next session.
The VPP has already decided to hit the streets to highlight how the implementation of roster system has affected the educated unemployed youth in Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
VPP president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit had told reporters on Friday that the party is left with no other option as the government is not giving any opportunity to discuss the issue in the Assembly.
“We will seek the confidence of youth and general public on this very important issue. We will not allow our youth to suffer due to the roster system,” Basaiawmoit had told reporters, expressing unhappiness on the Speaker’s decision to conclude the House proceedings for the day on Friday without hearing the members of the Opposition.