Opp Cong stages walkout after Speaker disallows discussion on suspension of top cops

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 15, 2021

The opposition Congress on Wednesday staged a walkout as a mark of protest against the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government for preventing a discussion in the Assembly on the demand for immediate suspension of top police officials to allow a free and fair investigation into the alleged killing of the former HNLC leader Cherishterfield Thangkhiew on August 13.

The House witnessed heated arguments after a short duration discussion moved by Congress legislator from Mawlai PT Sawkmie was disallowed by the Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh. 

Earlier, Lyngdoh had admitted and fixed that the short duration discussion will be taken up today. However, the decision was changed on grounds that the matter is “subjudice” since investigation by the One Man Commission of Inquiry is going on. 

When the Speaker refused to reconsider his ruling, the opposition members staged a walkout from the House. 

The opposition MLAs also shouted anti-government slogans “MDA govt down down” and “Conrad Sangma down down” as they were heading out the Assembly building. 

Before staging the protest, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma said that the demand for suspension of the concerned officers is not at all something which can be considered as subjudice.

He however said from the stand of the government, it proves beyond reasonable doubt that they are hellbent on sticking to the decision that they have taken and they want to completely stonewall any possibility of discussion. 

Mukul also asserted that the discussion is important in order to have a conscious decision to be taken by the government based on the offshoot of the deliberation of this discussion.

“(If allowed), it would have been rather an opportunity for the government to review their stand and take a conscious decision considered best for the interest of the people and the state,” he said. 

“Now in absence of that we understand that even discussion on this subject will be meaningless because they (Govt) will not be willing to even listen in other words it will fall on deaf ears…Most important part is that the intent of the government is very clear before us we will not in all futility engage in discussion and debate, (therefore) we walkout to demonstrate our disapproval and complete lack of confidence on the intent  government,” the leader of opposition declared as he led his team out of the Assembly hall.