Joy blames State, Centre for blockade continuation
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 07 2011:
Taking grim note of inaction by both the Centre and the Government of Manipur on the ongoing economic blockade which is against the Indian Constitution, MPP legislator Okram Joy posed as to whether the Government will adopt the same stance if Manipur declares independence.
Interacting with some newspersons at the party office today, MPP Legislature Wing leader O Joy said silence of the Central Government even though the ongoing economic blockade is being enforced on the national highways for over two months compels apprehension that the blockade has the support of the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister for protecting National Highways is the prerogative of the Central Government.
Cautioning the Government that allowing the blockade to persist will cause fissures in the relationship amongst various communities, he said memorandum urging immediate intervention of the Centre to end the deadlock had been sent to both the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister through the State Government.
apart from the representation, public meetings as well as protest demonstrations were staged on numerous occasions but such movements are yet to evoke any positive response from the Centre consequently leading to speculation that disruption caused to transportation of goods into Manipur has the backing of the Centre, Joy expressed.
While the MPP is atleast taking some initiative to highlight suffering of the people along with demonstrating against the prolonged imposition of blockade it is questionable what the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi or the state unit Congress president is doing to address the situation, posed the Langthabal AC MLA.
Reacting to comments by the MPCC chief Gaikhangam and some Congress Ministers that the opposition parties have failed to enact their role, Joy suggested that assembly proceedings be re-evaluated to ascertain important issues brought up by the MPP alone during the course of 11 sittings in the 9th Assembly session.
Flipping through pages of religious compilations or the Congress constitution will not be able to evaluate contribution of the opposition parties in the State, he affirmed.
Pointing out that with the exception of cut-motion, motion against the Government or adjournment motion all other matters are the domain as well as obligation of the ruling party, O Joy also accused the MPCC chief of being dormant whenever Assembly sessions were held.
Lashing out at Gaikhangam, he said the State Congress chief being a member of the assembly hardly justified his role as an MLA whenever crucial issues figured at the assembly.
While is questionable what role Gaikhangam played in the assembly it is worth reminding that various MPP legislators had figured prominently in all the issues taken up for discussion in the House, the MLA asserted and presented a detailed account of issues tabled by the MPP.