Shillong, Oct 22: An off the cuff remark in Hindi by an executive member of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) riled the Leader of the Opposition today.
During a back-and-forth over the collection of professional tax by the KHADC, Executive Member in charge of Taxation Seiborlang Warbah said that his department has historically been weak and it was time to streamline its working.
In part of his speech, he used the Hindi words “Kuch huch hota hai”, which is also a famous Hindi move, and added that, whether it is accepted or not, the executive committee will proceed with its plans to improve the functioning of the council.
Leader of the Opposition Titosstarwell Chyne, while reacting to the use of the Hindi words inside the House by Warbah, said that it was strange that the EM answered in Hindi. Immediately, Powell Sohkhlet, Executive Member of the Land Department, stood up to say that Hindi is the national language, which is a common misunderstanding – while Hindi is an official language, it holds no official role as national language.
This whole argument sprung from a discussion raised by Mawshynrut MDC Srally Rashir on the opening day of the KHADC’s winter session regarding the collection of professional tax by the council.
Rashir raised the issue of collection of taxes from kwai sellers, tea stall owners and other small businesses and why the Executive Committee (EC) allegedly served a notice to an officer of the council for bypassing the EC while passing a notification.
