Shillong: Voice of the People Party (VPP) leaders, led by President Ardent Basaiawmoit, staged a walkout on Thursday during the ongoing session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.
The protest occurred after the Deputy Speaker declined the party’s request to prevent Education Minister Rakkam Sangma from responding to a short-duration discussion on the appointment of teachers in the Dadenggre Sub-Division.
Basaiawmoit, who initiated the discussion, had requested that the reply be made by either the Chief Minister or the Deputy Chief Minister. He cited an FIR filed against the Education Minister, accusing him of inciting communal discord, as the reason for this demand.
Speaking to the media, Basaiawmoit expressed his refusal to engage with someone he described as “a communal person” who allegedly seeks to promote enmity between the Khasi-Jaintia and Garo communities.
“A person who wants to see bloodshed between the two communities… we feel it is not proper on our part to behave as if nothing has happened. Just because he is a minister, we will not spare him, because for us, the law is equal for everyone. We hate injustice. We believe in justice,” the VPP president stated.
Basaiawmoit further emphasized that the party wanted to ensure the issue was officially recorded in the Assembly, highlighting the presence of a minister in the government willing to harm inter-community relations for personal gain. He also questioned why the law does not act as swiftly against ministers as it does against ordinary citizens.
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The VPP president reiterated that the party would continue to boycott Rakkam Sangma. While the party has not yet decided on its next steps, Basaiawmoit mentioned that they might consider approaching the court as the only viable solution.
It is noteworthy that on June 18, 2024, the VPP filed an FIR against Sangma, accusing him of inciting hate speech during the MP election campaign. The complaint was supported by a viral video clip in which Sangma allegedly made inflammatory statements against the VPP, claiming the party would “destroy, kill, oppress, and annihilate” other communities.
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