All Members except Chairman absent from Ethics Committee meet
Status quo of 10 Kuki MLAs remains
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 21 2023: Except for Chairman and MLA Sapam Nishikant, all other Members of the Committee on Privileges and Ethics did not turn up at a meeting convened by the same committee today to discuss a complaint filed by veteran politician Okram Joy against the alleged unethical conduct of 10 Kuki MLAs.

The MLAs/Members who did not turn up at the meeting scheduled at 11 am today are Rajkumar Imo Singh (Sagolband AC), Mohd Abdul Nasir (Lilong AC), Md Achab Uddin (Jiribam AC), Surjakumar Okram (Khangabok AC) LM Khaute (Churachandpur AC) and Sanasam Premchandra (Kumbi AC) .

All Members except Chairman absent from Ethics Committee meet

The 10 MLAs against whom O Joy lodged a complaint to the Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker for unethical conduct are Haokholet Kipgen (Saitu AC), Ngursanglur Sanate (Tipaimukh AC), Kimneo Haokip Hangshing (Saikul AC), Letpao Haokip (Tengnoupal AC), LM Khaute (Churachandpur AC), Letzamang Haokip (Henglep AC), Chinlunthang (Singhat AC), Paolienlal Haokip (Saikot AC), Nemcha Kipgen (Kangpokpi AC) and Vungzagin Valte (Thanlon AC) .

Speaking to media persons at his Kakwa Huidrom Leikai residence today, O Joy said that Manipur is now witnessing a second Chahi Taret Khuntakpa (Seven Years Devastation) after the first Chahi Taret Khuntakpa of 1819-1825 .

He said that many civil society organisations as well as Governor Anusuiya Uikey have been working at their best level to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur.

Soon after the violent conflict erupted on May 3, 2023, 10 Kuki MLAs including two Ministers and BJP MLAs submitted a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding a separate administration, thereby directly challenging the integrity of Manipur, Joy remarked.

The veteran politician said that he submitted a complaint to the Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker on May 18 against the 10 Kuki MLAs who after having sworn an oath to uphold and defend the integrity of Manipur manoeuvred to disintegrate the State.

A copy of the petition submitted to the Speaker was also sent to the Prime Minister on May 24 and the PMO sent a reply on May 30, he said.

The PMO's reply addressed to the Chief Secretary said that appropriate actions may be taken up against the 10 Kuki MLAs, Joy said and added that he received a copy of the PMO's reply.

Apart from recommending appropriate action against the 10 Kuki MLAs, the PMO's reply stated that an action taken report should be uploaded in a web portal specified by the PMO, he said.

"Acting on the PMO's letter, I wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary on August 8 enquiring if any action has been taken against the 10 Kuki MLAs.

The Chief Secretary replied that the matter has been referred to the Assembly Secretariat", Joy said.

He said that the Manipur Legislative Assembly can take up action against the 10 Kuki MLAs under Rule 91 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Manipur Legislative Assembly.

The veteran politician clarified that he was not demanding disqualification of the 10 Kuki MLAs but he petitioned the Speaker to take up appropriate action against the 10 Kuki MLAs including two Ministers.

The House/State Assembly is expected to take up certain actions if the MLAs who swore to uphold the integrity of Manipur are conspiring to disintegrate the State, he asserted.

Manipur Legislative Assembly was there since 1972 and the House adopted unanimous resolutions multiple times on different occasions to defend and uphold the integrity of Manipur, he pointed out.

Appropriate action must be taken up against the culpable MLAs as per the Constitution of India, he asserted.

Any matter related to the State Assembly's privilege must be taken up as top priority.

The issue of the 10 Kuki MLAs could have been discussed in the August session of the Parliament, he said.

It is rather unfortunate the Manipur Legislative Assembly has not yet bothered to discuss the issue of Kuki MLAs and Ministers openly conspiring to disintegrate Manipur even though the issue is now eight months old, Joy decried.

"As intimated by the State Assembly's Deputy Secretary to reappear at a meeting of the Committee on Privileges and Ethics scheduled at 11 am today, I went to the Assembly Secretariat in time for the meeting.

But no member of the committee came to the meeting except Chairman and MLA (Keishamthong AC) Nishikant Sapam", Joy said.

He asserted that the Speaker must not remain silent when some Members of the House have been conspiring openly to disintegrate Manipur.

The Speaker and the Assembly Secretariat should not remain silent on such a critical issue.

The Chief Minister too must pay full attention, said the veteran politician.

He then questioned why the Speaker and the Committee on Privileges and Ethics have been trying to protect the 10 Kuki MLAs.

He alleged that the incumbent State Government has been protecting the Kuki MLAs who are directly threatening the integrity of Manipur.

The Government's attitude and the Assembly Secretariat's conduct have reduced the Committee on Privileges and Ethics to a farce, he remarked.

Saying that the State Assembly is not there for gossiping, O Joy urged the State to work in the interest of Manipur and her people.

The way BJP has been protecting the 10 Kuki MLAs is extremely detestable, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not spoken a single word on the burning issue of the State as if Manipur has fallen off the map of India, he continued.

He asked if the people elected their representatives/MLAs just to sit back and watch some people making overt and covert attempts to break up Manipur.

He further asked as to why the Members of the Committee on Privileges and Ethics stayed away from the crucial meeting.

There is nothing the Assembly/Parliament cannot do for the State/country.

The House can definitely take up appropriate action against Members who acted against rules, Joy said.

He also asked if anything positive has come out of the MLAs' frequent visits to Delhi in the backdrop of the protracted violent conflict.

Ex-MLA RK Anand was also present at the press meet.