BJP hails Ordinance rejection
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 10 2012:
The Governor of Manipur not accepting the recommendation of the State Cabinet for an Ordinance that would have cleared the way for appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries from among Congress MLAs has been appreciated by the State unit Bharatiya Janata Party.
Interacting with newspersons today, State BJP president Sh Shantikumar contended that endeavour of the Congress Government to appease some disgruntled MLAs by appointing them as Parliamentary Secretaries would have an adverse effect of the State's financial position.
Expressing that the Ordinance is merely an attempt by the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to mollify some sulking MLAs so as to ultimately prolong his stint as the CM, he opined that the Governor has taken the right decision by rejecting the Ordinance as he was of the firm belief that Parliamentary Secretaries will only mean incurring more expenses at the cost of the State's exchequer.
Taking into account the State's financial position and interest of the masses it would be an appreciable decision if the State Cabinet abandon the idea of Parliamentary Secretaries, advised the BJP leader.
With regard to Congress MLAs elected from Ukhrul and Chandel district Assembly Constituencies not finding a berth in the Congress ministry, he opined that such a denial amounts to discrimination of people of the two hill districts.
Shantikumar also demanded that ministry reshuffle be effected at the earliest to accommodate Ukhrul and Chandel district representatives by removing one Minister each out of three entertained from Thoubal and Imphal East districts.
Reacting to the Chief Minister's comment that there is no guarantee that all the Ministers of the Congress Government will remain the five-year term expires, the BJP president questioned why such a model should not be applicable to the post of the Chief Ministership.