MAHUD Minister Henry must step down: CPI
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 26 2021:
MAHUD Minister Okram Henry Singh must resign from his post immediately as he is holding the post of Minister "against" the Constitution, said CPI State secretary L Sotinkumar today.
The Minister from Wangkhei Assembly Constituency is holding the post of Minister without him being a Member of Manipur Legislative Council for the last 6 months and this is against the Constitution, he said.
Speaking to media persons at Irawat Bhawan, Sotinkumar said Okram Henry had completed 6 months in office on March 24 without him being a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
Article 164(4) of the Indian Constitution states that "a Minister who for any period of six consecutive months is not a Member of the Legislature of the State shall at the expiration of that period cease to be a Minister.
|
"If a person is holding the position of a Minister without being a Member of the Legislature, he should win election within a period of six months," he said adding Okram Henry's office as a Minister has exceeded the period of six months.
On the other hand, some are spreading false information to mislead people on newspapers and other media outlets including social media that the Supreme Court has allowed extension of Henry's term as Minister.
Such information is unfortunate and has misled people.
The truth however is this that the Supreme Court has not concluded the hearing of the case and the top Court will be hearing it after the Holi festival, Sotinkumar said.
The Left leader continued that eminent personalities are usually considered for such Ministerial posts when they are not Members of the Legislature.
However, Okram Henry is a person who was accused in a drug case.
The Government giving him the post while it is pushing the war on drug campaign is appalling, he added.
Stating that Henry should resign as Minister immediately, Sotinkumar said a memorandum regarding the issue will be submitted to the Governor and Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, the protest of farmers against Centre's Farm Laws has completed 4 months and CPI is supporting the cause of the farmers and Nationwide bandh called today.
If the Centre is adamant, then the Farm Laws would meet the same fate as the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Even CAA has become an Act, the Centre isn't able to implement the CAA properly due to public protest.
The Government should repeal the Farm Laws, he said.