SHILLONG, MAR 19: The Meghalaya Assembly today witnessed members of the House used their mother tongue for first time in 46 years of the formation of the state, but the debate by them was a mixture of English too.
This happened when members of the House were debating on the governor’s address on the second day of the budget session here.
Prior to calling members to debate on Governor’s address, Assembly Speaker Donkupar Roy informed the House that two members – opposition Congress legislator from East Shillong Ampareen Lyngdoh and lone Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) legislator from North Shillong Adelbert Nongrum – would like to speak in Khasi language.
Interestingly, both the members did not debate by using their mother tongue (Khasi) fully as they also mixed English words and sentences in the course of the discussion.
Lyngdoh and Nongrum decided to speak in Khasi after they opposed the Governor Ganga Prasad for delivering his address in Hindi on the first day of Budget session.
English has always been the preferred language used by legislators keeping in mind that many members do not understand if Hindi, Khasi or Garo languages are spoken.
In the course of the debate, Lyngdoh, who had earlier staged a walk-out as a mark of protest to the governor’s address, said, “I feel happy to be able to get the opportunity to speak in Khasi and I feel that even the gods are in our favour.”
Referring to the rules, she said that though English is to be used in the House but this has changed from March 16 when another language was put to use.
Nongrum on the other hand alleged that the use of Hindi may be a hidden agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Though the translated version of their speeches were provided to all members in the House, other members especially from the ruling side expressed concern over the event that is unfolding inside the House arising out of the Governor’s address in Hindi.
This prompted the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator from Gambegre Saleng A to also seek the permission of the Speaker to speak few lines in Garo language.
Sangma said that he would also translate it into English for the benefit of the members when the Speaker asked whether he would also translate it in English.
“It is sad on my part to see that we are having differences in the House and this is not healthy. I can see that the brotherhood is moving away from us,” Sangma said.
Also participating in the debate, Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP) legislator from Mawkyrwat Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar urged the members not to be “emotional” just because the Governr was addressing the House in Hindi.
“The Governor was not comfortable speaking in English but let’s not get emotional because it is unfortunate if we are trying to minimize the dignity of the House. Let us communicate in the language we all understand (that is English),” he said.
Pointing out to Lyngdoh as somebody he would like to learn from, Tongkhar said, “But it will be a great loss to the House if she continues to speak in Khasi.”
Meanwhile soon after the session, chief minister Conrad K Sangma said that though there is a provision for members to speak in their own mother tongue but it has been a practice always that English is spoken for the benefit of everybody in the House.
“This is something that was not seen before. We have always seen that people who have spoken in English have normally spoken in English and I would prefer that kind of culture to continue,” he told reporters.
Keeping in mind the tradition of the House, the chief minister said that those comfortable speaking in English should continue to speak in English as it is more healthy for the entire working of the House.
When sought for her comment, three-time legislator of East Shillong Ampareen Lyngdoh said her speaking in Khasi in the floor of the House is one step closer to ensure inclusion of Khasi language in the Eight Schedule to the Constitution of India.
By Our Reporter
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