By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Assembly was prorogued on Friday after the culmination of the three-day Autumn Session.
Border dispute and issues related to influx dominated the proceedings in the House.
A number of Government Bills were also passed during the session.
The Opposition, as usual, was critical of the State Government for not allowing sufficient time to raise a number of pertinent issues.
There was anticipation that the House would witness heated debate on the issue of implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to tackle the problem of influx as is being demanded by the NGOs.
However, the issue of influx did not come up for discussion despite three resolutions on the issue of influx being moved by Ardent M Basiawmoit and Paul Lyngdoh (both UDP) and Marcuise N Marak (NCP).
Basaiawmoit had proposed to move a resolution on the need to bring about an effective mechanism in the form of a special legislation to safeguard the identity of the local indigenous people of the State while Marak had proposed to move another resolution on the need to protect the identity of tribals in Meghalaya and that the Assembly should resolve to implement ILP in the State.
UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh also proposed to move a resolution on the need to evolve a foolproof, viable and comprehensive mechanism to protect the indigenous communities as well as the non-indigenous permanent Meghalayans from the onslaught of waves of infiltration into the State.
The resolutions could not be taken up for debate in the House due to paucity of time.
Despite the demand from the Opposition to extend the time till 5 pm during Private Member’s Business on Thursday, the House was adjourned at 2 pm.
Opposition Leader Conrad K Sangma had pleaded for the extension to discuss and dispose off the listed motions and resolutions.
However, Congress MLA Lahkmen Rymbui, one of the chairmen entrusted by the Speaker to preside over the House, adjourned the session without further extension, much to the dismay of the legislators.
