I have done my job alerting CM: Mukul

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 20: Opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma today said he has done his job by alerting the chief minister Conrad K Sangma with regards to the drug kingpin from Mizoram. According to him, it is now up to the chief minister to take cognizance of the matter.

This came after Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma had expunged Mukul’s statement alleging Conrad of having a close association with a drug kingpin from Mizoram. Mukul had on Tuesday presented a photograph of Conrad, his wife and Henry Lalremsanga, who was arrested on April 23, 2013, in connection with the seizure of Rs six crore worth of banned pseudoephedrine tablets.

Speaking to reporters, Mukul claimed that in fact, he had been quite helpful in alerting the chief minister by giving him this kind of information (about  Henry), lest he might have not seen that news (published in 2013).

“Why should it be considered offensive? I’m sure everybody who knows the gentleman also will agree with me that I have come to know yesterday after I shared this vital Information in the August House that the person concerned whose picture I have shared is somebody who frequents the state,” he said while adding “Therefore, my job is done now. It is his (Conrad) job to utilize his wisdom and judgment.”

The former chief minister however expressed surprise to see how the government was navigating the whole narrative and defensive they have suddenly become accusing him instead of pointing a finger at the chief minister.

“I never said he (Conrad) he has a nexus but I have definitely say that the person concerned who have the privilege of sharing in that sitting arrangement in one of the very important program at the national capital is reflective of his mutual association with the person concerned,” he said adding “I am also told that yes this association is part and parcel, so therefore I am again in the House today I have said, yes my job is to caution you, I think now it’s the people who should tell him in addition to what I have said.”

He further added, “In yesterday’s proceedings, I have cautioned and I have advised the CM to see that he disassociate (with Henry) so that is my advice and I have also said, I’m sure you won’t get offended because I am suggesting that the chief minister should be disassociate his association since in view of what was carried by the national media. I feel that he should.”

On CM asking him to do research on the status of the case against Henry, Mukul however said, “That is my prerogative and it is also his (CM) responsibility to find out. He should rather go after the man and find out what exactly has happened to the case and is he still in any way directly or indirectly associating with other friends because it is not only one person along with that person there’s other persons from Delhi, whether they are still in those kinds of activity or not. It is up to the CM, he has all the ways and means to find out, he can just write to the government of India to the concerned authorities and find out.”

“I have said to put a scanner in view of what is happening. How do you interpret it? This interpretation is simple: any layman will understand what Dr. Mukul Sangma has suggested,” he stated.

Speaker expunges Mukul’s statement

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 20: Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma today expunged the statement made by opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma alleging the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma of having a close association with a ‘drug kingpin’ from Mizoram from the proceedings of the House as they are in violative of the rules.

Referring to the relevant rules, Thomas said, “Therefore, I in exercise of the rules expunge the statement made by Mukul Sangma from the proceedings (of the House) as they are in violative of the rules.”

“Therefore, the speech made by Mukul Sangma on the matter against the chief minister will not be part of the proceedings and I hereby expunge it from the proceedings of the House on September 19,” he added.

Reminding that the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly is known in the entire country as a very disciplined House, the Speaker said, “So let us not engage in calling names and making allegations without substantiated evidence.”

The ruling of the Speaker came after deputy chief minister-in-charge of parliamentary affairs Prestone Tynsong requested that Mukul’s statement be expunged.

Tynsong requested the member from Songsak to refrain from such kind of reference based on a ‘photograph’.

Defending the intent of his submission made during a discussion on a motion yesterday, Mukul said that the deputy chief minister has misinterpreted the basic intend of the submission.

“The person concerned whose name was reflected in the national media was an alleged accused and not convicted. I have not made an allegation of any substantive crime having  been committed by referring to what was reflected in the photograph. I have made my submission saying that we got to be careful, we got to be cautious as to whom we associate while we occupying the office of position, an office which is constitutionally empowered,” he said.

“I have also made a submission I would suggest the CM to disassociate himself from being associated with this kind of person whose antecedent I am not aware of, it is up to the CM to put them on scanner, that is what I have said. Now why is govt of the day so desperate and sweating it out to defend it?” Mukul asked.

He further said that the photograph is an official photograph in the social media page of the organizer and a sitting arrangement officially made in the front row and it is not by default that somebody had taken a selfie adding he had raised the issue because of unprecedented availability of drugs in the state really concerns him.

The former chief minister also claimed that everybody in the House particularly the minister know this person frequents the secretariat and residence of the chief minister.

“The person is associated with the CM and it is my duty to alert my CM because he is holding the responsibility,” he said while maintaining that he has not accused the CM and that his statement does not require to be expunged from the proceedings of the House.

He also assured to follow the proper procedure to ensure a decision is taken on the matter.

Expressing concern that his name was dragged into unnecessary arguments, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma asked the AITC leader to bring out the facts of the case.

“Let the member (Mukul) bring out the fact of the case, when this case happened, what is the status of this case right now,” he said.

“Our point is if you are going to connect two dots wherever you wish and suits you and draw a picture of that and then bring it in the House then just misguide everybody that is what we are trying to say,” he added.

“Does he even know that what this case is all about? Does he even know the case is already over? Does he even know that the court had given a complete judgment of this case and says the concerned persons are free. Let him do a research on this and let him find out,” Conrad said.

Speaker chairs meeting on new Assembly building

Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma chaired a meeting of the High Powered Committee on the construction of the new Assembly building at Mawdiangdiang.

The meeting was attended by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira, legislators Charles Pyngrope, Lahkmen Rymbui, and Banteidor Lyngdoh, Chief Secretary DP Wahlang, Commissioner & Secretary, Meghalaya Assembly, Dr Andrew Simons and other government officials.

After the meeting, the Assembly Speaker informed that the HPC meeting was held to give administrative approval to the new design of the dome as well as financial approval citing the increase of scope of work.

He stated that the new design has been vetted by IIT Roorkee and IIT Guwahati, and added that construction work of the building will proceed now.

‘The HPC sat to give administrative approval (to the new dome design) and also there was some financial approval required. The scope of work has also increased,’ the Speaker said.

‘After Eid work will resume in full swing,’ the Speaker said.

He also informed that the HPC has appointed a Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) as per the observations made by IIT Guwahati in the report on the collapse of the dome.

He also informed that the PWD & PMC has been instructed to look at the second phase of construction simultaneously.