Agencies
SHILLONG, MARCH 30
Opposition Meghalaya People's Front today urged Governor K N Tripathi to dismiss the Congress government headed by Mukul Sangma in the state for allegedly making a 'mockery' of the constitutional process in the House.
The MPF alleged that the Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai was forced to resign and theChief Minister nominated his own wife to the Panel of Chairmen, a day after the No-Confidence motion against the Speaker A T Mondal was admitted for a test on the floor of the House."Kindly dismiss the government headed by Mukul Sangma for making a mockery of the Constitutional processes in the House by pressuring the Deputy Speaker to resign, by nominating his own wife to the panel of Chairmen, by protecting his protégé in the office of Speaker by not allowing a Division in the House on the Motion for Removal of Speaker and for murdering democracy at all levels," Leader of Opposition and MPF president Donkupar Roy said in a petition to Tripathi.
MPF Secretary and National People's Party legislator James K Sangma handed over the petition in Kolkata on Friday evening.
Urging the Governor not to prorogue the House "Until justice to the movers of the motion for removal of Speaker is ensured," Roy called for directing the Speaker to rescind the acceptance of the resignation of the Deputy Speaker, restore the old Panel of Chairmen and reconduct the vote on the motion for removal of Speaker with opportunity to all MLAs to record their vote.
Speaker Abu Taher Mondal on Wednesday last survived a voice vote on the floor of the House as Opposition legislators moved a no-confidence motion against him for allotting less time for the budget session.
Ronnie V Lyngdoh, who chaired the session in the absence of Speaker, decided to put the resolution to test by a voice vote after the movers of the resolution and National Peoples Party legislator James K Sangma took time to initiate discussion debating on the alleged manipulation by the Speaker.
Sangma has alleged 'unfair' practices and 'manipulation' when the Speaker nominated a new chairman in place of former speaker Martin Danggo yesterday. He was said to be 'not well' but remained present today.
During the budget session, Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai quit and Assembly chairman Martin Danggo informed the Speaker he was receiving treatment and might not attend the session.
