Shillong: The members of the tenth Meghalaya Assembly scripted history on Monday, as a few of them debated in their mother tongues for the first time.

This happened on the second day of the budget session here when Ampareen Lyngdoh of the Congress and lone Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement member Adelbert Nongrum, participated in the debate on the governor's address in Khasi.

However, Lyngdoh and Nongrum also used English words and sentences during the discussion in the House. Many said their attempt to debate in Khasi has turned into "Khalish"(for using both Khasi and English languages).

Copies of the translated English versions of their speech were provided.

Lone NCP MLA Saleng A. Sangma from Gambegre constituency, also spoke in Garo for a few minutes, but reverted to English later.

The gesture on the part of Ampareen representing East Shillong, and Nongrum representing North Shillong, was a clear manifestation of their protest against governor Ganga Prasad who delivered his address to members of the Assembly in Hindi on the inaugural day of the budget session on March 16.

English is the official language for members of the House since the formation of the first Assembly in 1972.

The Meghalaya Language Act, 2005, also included Khasi and Garo languages as associate official languages of the state, but members of the House have been discussing issues in English since the state has mixed tribes - Khasi, Jaiñtia and Garo - speaking different languages.

Ampareen suggested to Speaker Donkupar Roy to also amend Rule 28 of the Rules of Conduct of Business of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly which stated that "the business of the Assembly shall be conducted in English".

"We may omit this paragraph since precedence was set in the realms of this august House on March 16," Ampareen said.

Nongrum alleged that the use of Hindi could be a hidden agenda of the BJP.

But Saleng termed the debate by members in their own mother tongue as "sad and not healthy".

"It is sad on my part to see that we are having differences on language (Khasi and Garo) in the House and this is not healthy," Saleng added.

Outside the House, chief minister Conrad K. Sangma said it has been always a practice to speak in English for the benefit of everybody in the House.

"Keeping in mind the tradition of the House, those comfortable speaking in English should continue speaking in English as it is healthier for the entire working of the House," he said.