Perhaps in a first, a Meghalaya governor cut short his address to the state legislature on the first day of the budget session to catch a flight to Calcutta.

This happened on Friday when governor Tathagata Roy delivered his address to the Assembly. The governor, along with chief minister Conrad K. Sangma, Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh and Leader of Opposition Mukul M. Sangma, arrived in the Assembly chamber.

After reading the first few paragraphs, the governor announced that he would not be able to read the entire speech.

“I shall now seek the kind indulgence of the honourable members present here and say that because of the time constraint, I shall not be able to read the entire speech. Instead, I shall read certain portions that I consider important, and request you to kindly take the rest as read,” Roy said. He went on to read quite a few of the paragraphs from his speech before concluding and heading for a group photograph with all legislators.

After the House reassembled, Congress legislator P.T. Sawkmie raised a point of order stating that it was an “insult” that the governor did not read the entire address.

“The governor did not respect the House and the Constitution. He has insulted the House and the people,” Sawkmie said. The Speaker clarified that the governor had himself said the portions he had skipped would be taken as read. He added that the governor had to catch a flight from the Umroi airport to Calcutta to attend a programme.

A senior legislator said it was perhaps for the first time that a governor decided not to read the speech in its entirety.

Minutes after leaving the Assembly premises, the governor tweeted, “There is no Corona in Meghalaya-yet. But I am going to Kolkata, so I have to look like an apparition. Now my IPhone cannot recognise me and I have key in my code every time.” (sic)

He also uploaded a picture of himself wearing a mask.

In his customary address, Roy outlined many of the policies and programmes of the government while stating that overall the agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act and demand for inner-line permit were effectively handled by state police. He also spoke about the recent mob lynching in East Khasi Hills which claimed a life.

“The government appeals to the citizens of the state to refrain from all such acts of violence in the interest of maintaining peace and harmony in the state,” he said.

He also said the government has taken all necessary steps to provide security to all citizens, irrespective of the community they belong to.