Shillong,July 7: UDP leaders and MLAs have sought action against BJP leader and cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai for his ‘unruly behaviour’ in interrupting the address of the Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh, who is also the president of the party, during the visit of the NDA presidential nominee Droupadi Murmu.
Speaking to reporters after an emergency meeting held on Thursday, UDP general secretary said Metbah had raised several issues which include the persecution of the minorities and tribals, inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule, Inner Line Permit for the protection and safeguard of the population in the state and others when he addressed the meeting to support the presidential nominee on Wednesday at Orchid Lake resort, Umiam.
“While he was raising these issues of concerns suddenly in the middle of the speech, the minister Sanbor Shullai interrupted and this interruption we feel since it is a very important meeting is unparliamentary, uncivil, unruly and unbecoming of a legislator to speak especially in a very important meeting in the presence of the presidential candidate and also in presence of union ministers and leaders from different political parties,” Mawthoh said.
“The leaders of our party have condemned the unruly behaviour of Shullai. We would like to urge upon the BJP, who invited different political parties to the meeting yesterday, to take action against their legislator. We also urge the leader of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Conrad K Sangma to take appropriate action against Shullai,” he said.
To a question, Mawthoh said the party will see how things develop and will accordingly decide the next course of action.
On whether the UDP will still extend support to the presidential candidate, Mawthoh said,“We have not really discussed about that but if there is a need to do that also we will see as this is done by an individual who belongs to the BJP, we are not saying anything against the party but we would like the party to first take action and we will see how we take this forward,” he said.
To another question, Mawthoh said they did not speak anything about apology from Shullai but have decided to leave it to the wisdom of the BJP and the leader of the MDA government to decide on the action.
He added that an official letter in this regard will also follow.
When asked whether the action sought is to drop Shullai from the cabinet, Mawthoh said that the UDP is only asking the chief minister through the media to take appropriate action.
