‘Time allocated is too short to raise a slew of important issues’
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 15: The Voice of the People Party (VPP) moved an amendment motion to seek the extension of the autumn session of the Assembly, which began on Friday.
Moving the motion, VPP legislator Adelbert Nongrum said he was very unhappy with the allocation of the duration of the current session.
“The allocation of five working days is too short, especially when the government convened the Assembly session twice a year,” he said.
The allocation of only two days to a private member’s business is not enough when there are so many pressing issues concerning the state, he added.
Citing such issues, Nongrum said the state’s lowest ranking on the country’s poverty index and poor education scenario needed discussion. Other issues include the drug menace, stalemate over the New Education Policy, unemployment, loopholes in the state’s medical seat quota, continuing impasse over the Harijan Colony issue, and funding for the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival, he said.
“We have very limited time to speak on these important issues which affect the common people. Why such an attempt to restrict the length of the session? What is the underlying agenda? A short Assembly session is nothing less than the murder of democracy,” he said.
He said the report on the allocation of time for the current session should be referred back to the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) for consideration on the concern or recommendation raised by the participating members.
Suggesting the extension of the private member’s business for as many days as the government business, Nongrum said the calendar for private member’s business should not be held on a Friday when the House sitting concludes at 12 noon.
The VPP’s Nongkrem MLA, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit who supported the amendment motion, said they were made to understand that the session would be for only five days since the government does not have much business.
“However, as members of the Opposition, we know that this is too short a time for us to raise many important issues. Moreover, most of the members belonging to the treasury bench actively participated in the assembly proceedings. So, it is very difficult for the Opposition members to find the space to raise important issues,” he said.
Basaiawmoit said 60 starred questions have been listed for the session to be held on September 19.
“I have submitted 20 of these important questions. But I know that I will be able to discuss only one. If the House sits for more days, we can dispose of 70-80% of the business listed for the current session,” he said.
He did not rule out the possibility of the government curtailing the session in order to avoid constructive criticism and piercing questions.
In his reply to the amendment motion, Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Parliamentary Affairs, Prestone Tynsong asked the Opposition parties to have some kind of coordination while raising issues to avoid overlapping and unnecessary wasting of time.
“I would request the members from the Opposition to sit together and decide on the issues they are planning to raise during the current session. We have seen members taking up the same subject, which leads to wasting time,” he said, requesting the Speaker to approve the allocation of time proposed by the BAC.