Imphal, August 02: Manipur People�s Party (MPP) president O Joy Singh seems to have been caught on the wrong footing over his remark on the June 18 declaration by the State Government with the party working committee and other social organisations asking him to step down.

Taking serious note of the remarks purportedly made by Joy in an interview with the North East Sun Magazine (July 16-31 edition), wherein he allegedly said that declaration of State holiday on June 18 was wrong on the part of the State Government, the working committee of party has demanded an explanation from him.

A meeting of the working committee was held today with Kshetrimayum Brajamani in the chair discussed the matter the implication of the �personal remarks� made by the leader of a political party which is committed to the protection of territorial integrity of Manipur.

The meeting denounced the remarks of Joy and felt was not in the interest of the people.

While demanding an explanation from Joy in this regard at the earliest, the meeting resolved that Joy should step down from his post as party president on moral ground if he cannot live up to the interest and aspiration of the people.

Invoking the party principle enshrined in clause 1, Article 3 of MPP, �to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur and ethnic identify�, the meeting further reaffirmed party�s commitment to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur.

The today�s working committee meeting also resolved to urge the ruling SPF Government for taking up steps to bring about an amicable solution to end the ongoing ANSAM-sponsored economic blockade in the interest of the suffering public.

Meanwhile, Thoubal Ningthou Lainingthou Thougal Lup has demanded a public apology from Joy.

If the MLA thinks that declaration of June 18 as a State holiday by the State Government was wrong, then he seems to have forgotten the significance of the June 18 uprising in which angry people gutted the State Assembly and MLA quarters, vice president of the Thoupanglup S Chaoba said in a statement.

It has exposed the double standard nature of Joy which pretend to love his motherland while being a party with the divide forces trying to disintegrate Manipur, the statement said while asking fire-brand Opposition MLA to keep his mouth shut from uttering anything on such an important issue of the State with a view to gain political advantage.

In the same vein, the Thoupanglup also appealed to MP Mani Charenamei not to forget that he is the representative of all the people belonging various communities living in the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency and not just of the Nagas alone.