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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Thursday, March 28, 2024

CM terms VPP MLAs’ walkout ‘disrespectful’ to Guv’s chair

“When the governor is speaking, it is a sacred and constitutional responsibility and one should not take it in a light manner; and when a proceeding like that is taking place, a certain level of respect and decorum needs to be maintained. Any issue can be raised after his address but to interrupt the governor while he is speaking sets a wrong precedent; it is disrespectful to the chair of the governor. That was not correct,” Sangma said.

MEGHALAYA:

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, on March 20, termed the walkout staged by Voice of the People Party (VPP) legislators over the language barrier as “disrespectful” to the chair of the head of the state.

“When the governor is speaking, it is a sacred and constitutional responsibility and one should not take it in a light manner; and when a proceeding like that is taking place, a certain level of respect and decorum needs to be maintained. Any issue can be raised after his address but to interrupt the governor while he is speaking sets a wrong precedent; it is disrespectful to the chair of the governor. That was not correct,” Sangma said.

Earlier today, all the four VPP MLAs staged a walkout on the first day of the budget session in protest against Governor Phagu Chauhan’s address in Hindi.

According to the chief minister, this is not the first time that a governor addressed the house in a language other than English, adding that the primary reason has been because of the limitation that the governor had in terms of fluency with a particular language.

“That is normal because our country is a diverse nation and most governors come from Hindi-speaking states. Because of his (governor) limitation, he requested to address the house in Hindi and the English version of the speech was placed in the house for members to refer to and read. It is not something new,” Sangma added.

Asserting that the issues of promotion of the language and protection of identity are important to all members, the chief minister, however, said that it is incorrect to say that the governor’s inability to read in English was an alleged attempt to disrespect the people. “It is incorrect to combine and connect these two dots; it is unfair to the governor because he did not act by choice,” he added.

Referring to talks about patriotism, Sangma said, “We have to remember that each and every one of us – any tribe, any community love our own people but that sense of patriotism and love for our own does not get stronger by hating others or bringing others down.”

“It does not strengthen your patriotism but creates the negativity which is not healthy at all in society. Loving our own people is one thing and loving your own but hating others is a different thing – this is not the kind of culture we would like to see in the assembly,” the chief minister added.

Terming the walkout episode as ‘embarrassing’, Sangma said the whole country is watching and it reflects badly on the members of the house. “I urge the members not to engage in such kinds of scenes; there are other ways to raise your concerns,” he stated.

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