Winter session of State Assembly : Street protests heat up obituary chill
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 18 2013:
Start of the two-day winter session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today concluded after obituary references to three former members who passed away recently even as serenity in the House was in sharp contrast outside as street vendors attempted to storm the Assembly to air their woes.
Led by leader of the House Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, members present today in the sixth sitting of the 10th legislative Assembly paid glowing tributes to former Saitu as well as Kangpokpi AC representative LS John, ex-MLA from Wangkhem Assembly Pangambam Munal and W Komol, who represented Kumbi AC in the Assembly.
The members also observed a two minute silence in honour of the departed souls.
Besides, the CM, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Francis Ngajokpa, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Ngamthang Haokip, Parliamentary Secretary for IPR K Meghachandra, and MLAs S Bira and Th Shyamkumar in their obituary references recounted contributions made by the three former MLAs.
Among others, tomorrow's session will have presentation of the Business Advisory Committee report.
On the street, police foiled two attempts by agitated women street vendors to march to the Assembly complex this morning.
Holding banners and shouting slogans a group of street vendors suddenly appeared on the Thangmeiband road but their plan to demonstrate in front of the Assembly Complex opposite to Lilashing Khongnang Khong was foiled by the police who bundled the protestors in a police vehicle and off-loaded them at Langol side.
yet, a second group of protestors emerged from Thangmeiband DMC Gate section of the road but presence of adequate security personnel cut short their plan at near THAU Sports complex.
After a brief heated exchange of words between the police personnel and the women protestors the latter dispersed from the scene.
Speaking to newspersons on behalf of the street vendors one Ningthoujam Bina said today's protest was to remind the State Government about the 2009 ruling by the supreme Court to facilitate street vendors ply their trade at a suitable location.
Asserting that the protest was to demand tabling/passing of a Bill during the winter session of assembly, she fervently appealed to all the 60 legislators to understand plight of the street vendors, who too have their own family to feed.
With the Government not yet complying with the apex court decree the street vendors have to endure physical assault, scattering of their goods and verbal abuse by the security force personnel on a daily basis at Khwairamband Keithel, said Bina reiterating her appeal that the Government do the needful to enable the economically underprivileged section of the society sustain livelihood.