"Nemcha's leave plea has no legal validity"
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 27 2023:
Former law minister L Jayantakumar said that the application filed by minister Nemcha Kipgen seeking leave of absence from the ensuing state assembly session has no ground of legal support.
Addressing a press meet at his Keishamthong residence on Sunday, the ex-minister said that assembly session is an important session of the legislators as well as the public.
This is the platform where public issues are discussed to explore solutions and make legislations.
Skipping assembly session by a member of the House, who took an oath, is a serious matter, he said.
In her application, minister Nemcha cited security concern as the reason for her absence.
However, the question that arises out of her application is if she had requested adequate security measures for her either to the chief minister or the speaker.
In case she made such request and the government denied the same, it is reasonable for her to skip the session or else, it lacks legality and reason, he explained.
The session is not a cabinet meeting but an assembly session, which has its own rules and conducts, and people are raising questions to the CM and speaker over the minister's application, Jayanta added.
Peace has not been restored in the state even though incidents of armed conflict have sub -sided to a great extent.
Nearly 200 had lost their lives and several thousands of people have been displaced ever since the violence broke out on May 3 in Churachandpur district.
Amid such situation, holding a one day assembly session is an act of dishonouring the public mandate, he said.
Recalling his experience while serving as a judge in Churachandpur district prior to his political career, the ex-MLA of Keishamthong AC said that illegal immigrants from Myanmar are often granted citizenship on a mere endorsement from a village chief to the DC.
This practice has been continuing since those days till date.
Due to such situations, those illegal immigrants are living in the state as a citizen of the country and it would not be an easy task to prove their foreign nationality, he said.
Stating that some individuals are trying to gain political mileage out of the crisis by visiting different locations and issuing emotional statements, Jayantakumar asked such persons to stop playing with the sentiments of innocent mothers of the society.