SHILLONG, Feb 20: Are the ministers of the MDA 2.0 Government lacking in knowledge about their own departments or are they not doing enough homework before entering the Assembly? Answers to both these questions might seem obvious if one takes into account the number of times Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had to step in during the previous Assembly sessions to save his fumbling ministers from embarrassment. The situation hasn’t improved much this time around as the ministers are still looking up to the chief minister to answer questions posed by the Opposition members.
On Tuesday, during discussions in the Assembly, Sangma had to step in to address two of the four questions that were posed to the ministers for their responses.
When Opposition MLAs inquired about the Veterinary department from Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister AL Hek, the chief minister intervened and informed the House that a state veterinary hospital will be coming up.
In a similar vein, Sangma clarified significant facets of the topic when Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh was asked a question concerning betel nut.
Although there is nothing wrong with the chief minister, who heads the 12-member State Cabinet, from answering questions on behalf of his Cabinet colleagues, many people wonder if the MDA ministers are ill-equipped or underprepared to answer questions about the departments they handle.
