SHILLONG, June 21 – Meghalaya assembly today deferred a privilege motion against an NCP member questioning ‘impartiality’ of the Speaker as the latter had sought the postponement saying he was not keeping good health. Speaker Martin M Danggo, who was to take up the matter today, informed the House his receiving a letter from NCP MLA Edmund Sangma requesting him to defer the privilege motion against him as he was ‘not well and undergoing treatment’ at the hospital.
Quoting a relevant rule, Danggo announced the deferment of the motion 'on any day within the session'. Earlier, the mover of the motion Congress’ Zenith M Sangma said Edmund Sangma was found in the MLA Hostel yesterday and pressed for discussion of the motion claiming that the latter appeared to be all right. His party colleague, Cyprian S Sangma, also alleged the NCP leader was absenting himself from the House ‘wilfully’.
To this, NCP’s T D Shira said Edmund Sangma was 're-admitted’ after being discharged from the hospital. Intervening, Health minister E D Marak also supported Shira’s statement quoting reports from senior doctors of the hospital that Edmund Sangma was ‘re-admitted’.
The Speaker on Thursday last had said his secretariat received a privilege motion moved by Congress’ Zenith M Sangma who quoted media reports of April 26 last saying NCP leader ‘Edmund K Sangma flays Danggo for supporting the ruling party’s views’. The mover alleged that Edmund Sangma had questioned the 'impartiality’ of the Chair and therefore breached the privilege of the House, Danggo had said, ordering to take up the matter on Monday since the NCP leader was not present in the House.