Meghalaya Governo, Ganga Prasad, raised a storm in the State Assembly on Friday after he addressed the house in Hindi. Ganga Prasad’s speech created an uproar in the Assembly as the opposition member, Ampareen Lyngdoh of the Indian National Congress staged a walk-out and others raised objection.
Governor Prasad was addressing the first day of the Budget session on Friday in Shillong, and it was the first time in the history of the Assembly that a governor delivered his speech in Hindi.
CM Conrad Sangma with Governor Ganga Prasad/ Source: ANI
The Speaker, Donkupar Roy told Shillong Times, “The official language here is English but as per the rule, anyone can speak in their mother tongue provided they give the translated version beforehand.” Roy added that the version which is handed over to the members is considered to be the official one.
As per reports, earlier in the day, when Roy announced that the the Governor would address the legislature, Congress MLA from Mawlai PT Sawkmie asked if he would be addressing in Hindi or English. He also asked if translation would be provided if Prasad was to address in Hindi. Copies of Prasad’s translated speech were provided to the members of the Assembly but they were finding it difficult to understand.
As Prasad began his address, Sawkmie raised objections repeatedly. Sawkmie told Times of India:
In 46 years of statehood, this is the first time the governor has addressed us in Hindi. It seems the big party is trying to impose its one nation, one culture and one language agenda. I am sure members can now speak in Khasi, Garo or Jaintia languages as per their wish as the governor has set a bad precedence.”
Asserting his point even further, Sawkmie said that “the Governor shouldn’t have let down the dignity and decorum of the House.”
Defending Prasad and blaming the opposition for creating a issue out of non-issue, newly sworn-in Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said:
“The Honorable Governor is comfortable with Hindi, he can read Hindi better so he did what he was comfortable with. If he had not given anything in writing, then we would be able to say, ‘What is happening?’ But it has been given in English and I don’t see any issue.”
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad / Image Source: PTI
However, the outgoing CM and the leader of the opposition, Mukul Sangma maintained his party’s stand that the Governor should have delivered his speech in the ‘language of the House’.
“We are proud of our heritage in the Assembly, but a precedence is created and we will have to preserve the legacy. It would have been appropriate to address the House in the language we communicate in.”
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