Babloo refuses to apologize for remark
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 09 2015:
Executive Director of Human Rights Alert (HRA) Babloo Loitongbam has refused to apologize to the Committee of Privilege and Ethics of Manipur Legislative Assembly for his "Mithibong Mitambal" remark made during a current affairs discussion programme on Impact TV.
Babloo was summoned to appear before the Committee of Privilege and Ethics of Manipur Legislative Assembly on Monday as per the breach of privilege motion moved by Parliamentary Secretary Vungzagin Valte and MLA Dr I Ibohalbi.
The Executive Director of HRA had allegedly called the legislators as "Mithibong Mitambal" meaning "irresponsible and coward" in Manipuri during the TV discussion programme.
The Committee of Privilege and Ethics is chaired by Deputy Speaker Preshaw Shimray while MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi, RK Imo, Laisom Ibomcha, Daikho Mao, P Brojen and RK Anand are its members.
All members of the Committee except MLA RK Anand were present during the meeting on Monday.
In his submission before the Committee, Babloo said that he never said all 60 MLAs were "Mithibong Mitambal".
He was only referring to a specific behavior pattern of abdicating responsibility and beating the innocent children who were coming out in the street because of the irresponsibility of the legislators.
Moreover, the term "Mithibong Mitambal" is a slightly outmoded epithet fondly used by parents and grandparents when their wards abdicate their responsibility and perform far short of their expectation.
Rightly or wrongly, the people seem to have sensed a divergence of priorities between themselves and their elected representatives on the core issues being faced by the State.
He had used the term neither to offend nor insult the legislators.
Babloo remained adamant in his refusal to apologize to the Privilege Committee for his controversial remark made during the discussion programme of Impact TV.
The Committee would submit its recommendations to the House regarding this breach of privilege motion.
The House is likely to announce a major penalty against Babloo Loitongbam during its ensuing session commencing from February 25 .
Later talking to media persons at his office, Executive Director of HRA Babloo Loitongbam said that he would welcome any penalty awarded to him by the House for his "Mithibong Mitambal" remark, and added that he had commented in good faith and never intended to insult the legislators.