Shillong: Perturbed with the Assembly Speaker Thomas Sangma for adjourning the proceedings of the House for the day on Friday, the Voice of the People Party (VPP) has threatened to take to the streets on the implementation of the roster system for job quota in state government.
However, Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma defended the Speaker’s decision to adjourn the sitting of the House for the day saying that it has been done as per the rules and procedures of conduct of business in the House.
Voicing unhappiness with the decision of the Assembly Speaker for adjourning the proceeding of the house for the day, Voice of the People Party (VPP) legislator, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit felt that the Speaker should have sought suggestions from the opposition members either to extend or stick to the timing according to the calendar.
“This is the first time that the Assembly budget session is being held only for seven days and only two days are reserved for the private member’s business,” the VPP legislator pointed out.
“Now we are left with no other option, but to take to the streets on this burning issue (roster system) since the government is not giving us an opportunity to discuss it in the assembly,” Basaiawmoit said
Moreover, the VPP legislator claimed that the government is fully aware that there is an important motion submitted by the opposition members.
“The wording which I have submitted for the motion I have clearly mentioned the urgent need to discuss the roster system. We wanted to request the government to put on hold the implementation of the roster system in the State retrospectively,” Basaiawmoit said.
He said the party will seek the educated unemployed youth and the general public at large from Khasi and Jaintia Hills region to mount pressure on the government to put on hold implementation of the roster system.
“We will not allow our youth to suffer in view of the implementation of the roster system,” the VPP legislator asserted.
Chief Minister Sangma said that the rule book specifically mentions that on Friday the House will function from 10 am to 12 noon.
“Some sections of the members in the opposition had stressed about the rule many times and said that rules should be followed. And that is exactly what the speaker is doing,” he said, adding that members are free to raise the issues either in the debate on the governor’s address, debate on the budget, special motions, and short duration discussion.
“There are so many options where members are free to raise any issue at any time. We have always discussed the matters. We have never shied away from anything and even in the future we will not shy away from anything,” the Chief Minister said.
