Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 24:
Reacting to the reported contention of Minister Ph Parijat on the AFSPA issue that State Government could not overrule Central Government's decision MPP president Okram Joy Singh reiterated every grievances of the people could be discussed at the floor of the assembly and forwarded to the Centre for necessary amendment.
It is the prerogative of the State assembly to amend certain provisions in the Act in case the people concerned express resentment and demands withdrawal of the Act, maintained the opposition MLA.
Interacting with media-persons at his office chamber today, Joy asserted that demand of the opposition parties to convene a House session at the earliest should be obliged by the SPF Government as it concerns the interest of the people of Manipur.
As the sentiment, aspiration and anguish of the people could be brought up by the elected representatives and discussed at the Assembly reluctance of the ruling front to convene a session tantamount to undermining the very principle of democracy.
Outrightly rejecting the comments of Ph Parijat on futility of impact of State Assembly decision on the Central Act (AFSPA), Joy pointed out that even decisions adopted by the Parliament could be either negated or amended through a resolution passed in the State assembly if the Act is against the interest of the people.
He further elaborated that assembly has been enshrined the right to amend Central Act after the matter is recommended for the President's assent on deletion of some unwanted provision of AFSPA.
Likewise, the State Assembly may also resolve to repeal the Act and intimate to the Centre for necessary procedure to delete any unwanted acts detrimental to the aspiration of the concerned State people, added the MLA.
In a democracy system of governance roles of Parliament and assembly is equally important to address the grievances of the people failing which the very principles of democracy would be robed of sanctity of existence of the sacred institutes, continued the seasoned politician.
While the Congress-Communist party combined Central Govt has already expressed its unwillingness to comply to the State peoples' aspirations it is an undisputable fact that the same coalition at the State has also played a significant part in putting the current agitation in bad light, he charged.
O Joy further claimed that taking into peoples' interest the opposition parties have been demanding special assembly session to discuss threadbare the impending situation and compliment the faith reposed by the electorates to discuss and act accordingly in a positive manner.
Condemning the attempted arson at the private residences of MP Dr T Meinya and Minister N Mangi recently, lie observed that it could not be related to the ongoing peoples' movement but the handiwork of some anti-national elements.
Joy also cautioned that such violent actions may belittle the masses' democratic and peaceful form of agitations in pursuance for removal of AFSPA and call upon all concerned to wary of such evil designs.