SHILLONG, July 7: The United Democratic Party (UDP) which is an alliance partner together with the BJP in the Conrad K Sangma led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance Government on Thursday condemned the ‘unparliamentary’ behaviour of BJP MLA Sanbor Shullai during an official programme to welcome NDA presidential nominee Draupadi Murmu in which the minister had interrupted the assembly speaker’s speech to claim there were no atrocities against tribals in the country.

UDP General Secretary Jemino Mawthoh condemned the incident and said that as a party they expect the BJP to take action. The assembly speaker Metbah Lyngdoh is the president of the UDP.

Earlier, Mawthoh had also urged the leader of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) to take action against the unparliamentary and uncivil behaviour of Shullai.

“As a party we sat in this impromptu meeting and have all condemned this incident where the minister interrupted UDP president Metbah Lyngdoh who is also the Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly,” said Mawthoh.

He also said that the UDP expects the BJP president and its BJP as party to take necessary action on the incident which has embarrassed the state.

“The leader of the MDA needs to take appropriate action against this uncivil behaviour of Sanbor Shullai,” demanded Mawthoh.

According to the party leaders, Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh was raising issues relating to the state when the incident took place.

“During the interaction very serious issues were raised. The Speaker had gone as a guest , since the invitation was from the Presidential Committee of BJP,” mentioned Mawthoh.

He recalled that the Speaker raised several issues pertaining to the state and the tribal community, particularly atrocities against Christians, Inner Line Permit ( ILP) and the demand for inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the 8th schedule of the Constitution of India.

It was when the Speaker was highlighting incidents of tribal atrocity in the country that Shullai had interrupted and tried to wave off the statement by saying “there are no atrocities against tribals in the country”.

The regional party has termed Shullai’s disruption as a huge embarrassment for the state given that it came from a state minister and in the august presence of India’s next President.