SHILLONG, SEP 20: Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma on Wednesday 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 violation 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 parliamentary affairs Prestone Tynsong requested that Mukul’s statement be expunged.
Tynsong requested the member from Songsak to refrain from such kinds of reference based on a ‘photograph’.
Defending the intend 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 office of position, office which is constitutionally empowered,” he said.
“I have also made a submission. I would suggest the CM disassociate himself from being associated with this kind person whose antecedent I am not aware of, it is up to the CM to put them on a scanner, that is what I have said. Now why is the government of the day so desperate and sweating it out to defend it?” Mukul asked.
He further said that 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 unprecedented availability of drugs in the state really concerns him.
The former chief minister also claimed that everybody in the House, particularly the minister, knows 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 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 facts 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 suit 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 what this case is all about? Does he even know the case is already over? Does he even know that the court has given a complete judgment of this case and says the concerned persons are free…Let him do research on this and let him find out,” Conrad said.
By our Reporter
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