Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma appeared to lose his cool today when involved in a discussion with North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum over the issue of relaxation in the upper age limit of government job applicants.
During the course of Question Hour in the Assembly, Nongrum asked if the state government was really serious about the issue as he was. The CM then intervened and described Nongrum as “melodramatic”.
“We are all serious here. If he (Nongrum) thinks that by raising his voice he is the only serious person here…please tell him to ask questions properly. Don’t be melodramatic here,” Sangma said through the Speaker.
The CM went on to say that the state government is examining the proposal to relax the upper age limit for appointments in the government sector.
“Time and again the government has taken steps to increase the age limits of different categories like teachers and nurses,” he stated.
Trying to cool tempers, Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh said, “I would like to see that whenever we ask questions I would like to see that we asked in a polite manner.”
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who also holds the Parliamentary Affairs portfolio, appealed to the MLAs to leave aside their emotions while asking questions, which only irked Nongrum.
Earlier, Sangma said that relaxing the upper age limit cannot be uniformly implemented and different categories need to be segregated.
“It should not affect the overall functioning of the government. There needs to be a balance,” he added.
