Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 20:
Bowing to mounting public pressure, a meeting of MLAs today resolved to resign from the membership of state Assembly if the center does not retract its decision to extend the boundary of the Naga ceasefire by June 31.The decision to resign en masse was taken during a meeting of the MLAs held at the conference hall of the state Guest House.
Several organizations asked them to resign by 6 pm today.
State Assembly Speaker Dr S Dhananjoy Singh, former Chief Ministers W Nipamacha, RK Dorendra and Rishang Keishing jointly presided over the meeting attended by 36 MLAs.
The remaining 24 MLAs were absent as some of them are outside the state while some others are presently recuperating at hospitals after they were injured in the June 18 arson.
Four others could not be contacted for the meeting.
The MLAs reviewed in detail the center�s decision of extending the ceasefire beyond Nagaland, the CRPF firing incident in which 13 persons were killed and several others injured and the attack on MLAs including the speaker, N Bihari and K Tomba.
The burning down of the official residences of the Speaker, Chief Minister and MLAs and the State Assembly by an enraged mob were also deliberated.
The meeting condoled the death of 13 protestors and observed a two minute silence in honour of them and condemned the attack on MLA N Bihari and K Tomba.
The MLAs pledged support to the resolution of the people that the integrity of Manipur should not be disturbed.
They decided to resign en masse if the Center fails to withdraw its decision by June 31.The meeting also agreed that the killing of 13 protesters, attack on MLAs including the Speaker and torching of Government buildings were due to the failure of the administration under the President�s Rule.
It also decided to press the Government to initiate a Judicial Inquiry by a sitting Judge of the Gauhati High Court into the firing incident of June 18.After the meeting, former Deputy Chief Minister Dr L Chandramani Singh told waiting reporters that successive Cabinets had opposed the extension of the truce area and people had also held massive rallies to safeguard territorial integrity.
He said it is unfortunate that the Center decided to allow the extension imposing Central Rule in the State after keeping the State Assembly under suspended animation.
Stating that the move is against the aspirations of the people, Dr Chandramani said that an all party delegation will go to Delhi at the earliest and press the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and others to safeguard the territorial integrity of the state.
He said that the three MPs from the state should also press the center to review the decision.
Regarding the pressures from different organizations to the MLAs, Chandramani said it is not appropriate to resign at this juncture.
Instead, they will leave no stone unturned to their efforts to make the wishes of the people possible.