Bill to keep off Article III moved, claims Meinya
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 23 2014: Claiming that he had moved a private member Bill in the Parliament to keep off Article III of the Constitution from Manipur in order to protect the State's integrity and territorial boundary, Dr Meinya appealed to the people to re-elect Congress so that the same Bill can be passed in the next term.

Dr Meinya who is seeking a third term as MP from Inner Manipur P/C on a Congress ticket made this statement at an election meeting held today at Taobungkhok under the aegis of Patsoi Block Congress Committee.

Once the Bill is passed and Article III is kept away from the State, its territorial integrity would be safe, he said.

Claiming that the State's territorial integrity was kept intact during the past 10 years when he was the MP under UPA-I and UPA-II, Dr Meinya said that the State's Congress Government headed by Chief Minister O Ibobi adopted a number of resolutions in the State Assembly highlighting the State's determination to protect integrity of Manipur at all costs and the same resolutions were sent to the Centre.

File pic of tributes paid to the June 18 martyrs at Kekrupat

These State Assembly resolutions required amendment of the Indian Constitution but at the same time many MPs are in favour of dividing big States into smaller ones.

These two contrasting positions derailed any attempt to modify or amend Article III of the Indian Constitution.

"That was why, I moved a private member Bill which would keep away Manipur from Article III as a special case," stated Dr Meinya.

However, the same Bill is yet to be discussed in Parliament due to huge din raised by Opposition members.

Appealing to the people to entrust Congress party with the power to pass the Bill after due discussion, Dr Meinya said that women's reservation Bill has been passed by the Rajya Sabha as well as the State Assembly.

But the same Bill could not be passed in the Lok Sabha and the Congress party regrets this.

MPCC president and Deputy CM Gaikhangam said that the Congress party took the responsibility of governing the State with due acknowledgement that people have faith in the party.

Saying that people still repose their faith in the Congress, Gaikhangam claimed that the Congress would emerge victorious this time too and there would UPA-III Government at the Centre.

Most of the Opposition parties, particularly BJP are marred by internal conflicts and dissent, Gaikhangam said he felt sorry for the Opposition parties thinking about the meagre number of votes they would get.

Belittling all the tall claims made by Opposition parties, Gaikhangam asked on what calculations these parties are expecting victory when they do not have any members in the Assembly, ADCs and Zilla Parishads.

Narendra Modi's decision to contest the Lok Sabha election in more than one Parliamentary Constituency is driven by his lack of confidence, Gaikhangam asserted.

Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai called upon the gathering to work harder to so that the Congress candidates get more votes this time than the previous election.

She went on to claim that Congress party is a party which keeps close contact with the mass and it always works in line with the pulse and aspirations of the public.

MLA O Landhoni too spoke at the public meeting.