No question of violating Constitution : Basanta
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 27 2024: With Congress and BJP continuing to throw charges and counter charges against one another on not summoning the winter session of the Assembly, Law and Legislative Affairs Minister Th Basantakumar has once again said that there is no question of the State Government violating the Constitution.

Addressing a press conference at his residential quarters at Babupara today, Basanta Kumar said that convening only two Assembly sessions in a year is authorised by the Constitution.

His response comes a day after Congress MLA K Ranjit said that three Assembly sessions should be held in a year as per Article 174 of the Indian Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951 .

Accusing K Ranjit who is also the Deputy CLP leader of making a personal allegation on him over the issue by portraying him as someone who is ignorant of the law of the land, the Minister advised the Congress MLA to make an issue based statement instead of making it a personal issue.

The Minister further stated that the Congress MLA throwing personal allegations on him by lis- tening to only a portion of the statement he gave on December24 was unfortunate.

Continuing that he spoke about Article 174 of the Indian Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951 during the press briefing on December 24, Basanta Kumar reiterated that the Congress MLA depicting him as a Law Minister who had no knowledge of the amendment was unfortunate.

He went on to state there is evidence (video proof) of him speaking about the amendment of Article 174 .

The charges that the Government violated the Constitution over not summoning the winter session of the Assembly is wrong, the Minister said.

Saying that he thought of K Ranjit as someone who does extensive research on important issues, the Minister added that his assumption, unfortunately, has turned out wrong.

Only small minded people discuss people, he said.

Saying that the Assembly has to be summoned at least twice a year without fail with the gap of two sessions not exceeding six months according to the Constitution, Basanta Kumar further advised the Congress MLA to speak on the issue instead of making a personal attack.

All rules are made under the Constitution including the Rule of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the State Assembly, he said and reiterated that holding only two Assembly sessions is not unconstitutional.

Congress violated the Constitution on many occasions while the party was at the helm, he said and added that Emergency was also proclaimed while the grand old party was in power.

Unlike Congress, the BJP has never proclaimed Emergency, he said.

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