Govt should discuss issues raised by opposition

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 15: Opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma today said that the State government instead of making an appeal should call for a meeting in regard to the issues to be raised by the opposition in the Assembly’s autumn session, which went underway here.

When sought for his comment on the request made by deputy chief minister in-charge parliamentary affairs Prestone Tynsong that the opposition should sit down together and decide on the issues to avoid overlapping and wasting of time, Sangma said, “You should put the question back to the deputy CM in-charge Parliamentary affairs. It is considered as an approach to see that okay there is a healthy environment created in sync with the tradition that we are proud of in as far as the tradition of our August House is concerned, the dignity, the quorum and quality of debate and deliberation in the House has always been a matter of pride for the people of the State.”

“Therefore, in that line, if the government is sending that kind of appeal or whatever you may call it then we expect them to call for a meeting. They can’t just drop their idea on the streets. There is a way of doing things,” he said.

Stating that the present House has many newly elected members, Sangma said, “There is a need to have a kind of floor management which should be preceded by the kind of discussion amongst the political parties both in the ruling and the opposition that is what we are trying to do.”

“At the same time, we also intend to give more time, more space for our friends who are newly elected,” he added.

HYC seeks action against culprits involved in ‘harassment’ of church leaders

The Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) today demanded from the state government to take up the matter with the government of Bihar to punish those who were involved in manhandling two religious leaders from the state.

Speaking to media persons, HYC president Robertjune Kharjahrin said that it is unacceptable for certain groups in Bihar to manhandle two religious leaders from Meghalaya as the constitution of India allows any religion to go for any religious activity.

Kharjahrin said that in Meghalaya every religion be it Christians, Hindu or Muslim has their own rights to do their own activity and nobody has ever interfered hence, the same spirit should be upheld and accepted in all parts of India.

“The constitution of India has given a religious right to all the people to go for any religious activity and there is no law yet to stop this, so we request the government of Meghalaya to pursue the matter with the government of Bihar so that those who were involved in manhandling two religious leaders from the state should be a book as per law,” said Kharjahrin.

Kharjahrin said that the HYC also demanded from the Home Ministry government of India to ensure that this should not happen in the future and it should ensure the safety and security of all religious communities across the country.

On the other hand leaders of the HYC urged that people of the state to not respond irresponsibly to such reports without knowing the full side of the story as it might lead to misunderstanding among other communities.