Minorities get RS seat because of Cong secularism: Abdul Salam
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 29 2014:
With his nomination papers cleared after the scrutiny today, ex-Minister and veteran Congressman Abdul Salam is all set to be elected as the State's new Rajya Sabha MP unopposed on February 7 next month.
The official procedure of scrutiny for the ensuing Rajya Sabha Election was held at the Secretariat of Manipur Legislative Assembly at 11.30 am today.
Secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly Y Indira, who is also Returning Officer of the Election, cleared the nomination form of the lone contender Abdul Salam after a thorough scrutiny.
State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) O Nabakishore acted as the Election Observer during the scrutiny.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, Deputy CM Gaikhangam and Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Th Lokeshwar were present during the scrutiny.
Parliamentary Secretary Md Amin Shah and General Secretary of MPCC S Jiten were the election agents of Abdul Salam.
Talking to media persons at the Assembly Complex, Chief Minister Ibobi said that the Congress MPs need to follow the party's discipline strictly and so the MPs from the State cannot simply rise up and speak in the Parliament.
All issues and matters are properly discussed by the party leaders before they are presented in the Parliament.
The national leaders of Congress would not ignore the core issues of the State and the MPs from the State would definitely take their responsibility in the Parliament, Ibobi asserted.
Hailing Congress Party as the most secular party, Abdul Salam said that the State's lone Rajya Sabha seat has been given to the minorities by the Congress leaders in order to balance the representation of all communities in the State.
The Congress Party can only drive the country to progress and development, he added.