HRA clarifies on non-appearance of its director before House committee
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 27 2014 :
In connection with the non-appearance its executive director Babloo Loitongbambefore the Privilege Committee" on the alleged breach of privilege and contempt of Manipur Legislative Assembly, Human Rights Alert (HRA) has clarified that when it received letter no.1/08/2013-14/LA(Priv) dated 25 July 2014 summoning Mr.Loitongbam to appear before the Privilege Committee the next day, he was already on his way to Delhi to attend the meeting of the Working Group on Human Rights in India and the UN (WGHR) scheduled on 26 July 2014 at New Delhi.
In a statement, Programme Executive of HRA Bashantakumar Wareppa said that the
WGHR meeting was fixed months in advance and the WGHR secretariat has booked his flight ticket as early as 16 July 2014.So, it has nothing to do with the developments in the last few days.
"As it is not possible for our director to attend the Committee meeting at 10.00 a.m.on 26 July 2014, I as the programme executive of HRA submitted a written representation to the Secretary of the Manipur Legislative Assembly informing his inability to attend the proceeding and to seeking a fresh date for my director to appear in person.
I also sought a copy of the notice of breach of privilege and Contempt of the House raised by Dr..IIbohalbi Singh Hon'ble MLA which was mentioned in the letter to have been enclosed but did not come through", Bashantakumar explained.
"HRA is happy to note that the Assembly Secretariat has kindly delivered a copy of the notice of breach of privilege and Contempt of the House raised by Dr..IIbohalbi Singh Hon'ble MLA to HRA office on 26 July 2014 afternoon and it is awaiting the next date fixed by the Privilege Committee for hearing and we will fully cooperate with the proceedings of the Committee to dig out the truth and to meet the ends of justice", Bashantakumar said, while reiterating that there is no question of HRA director absconding from the proceedings as it was made out to be in some media reports.