Gaikhangam says he will not quit under pressure
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 09 2015 :
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam Wednesday conjectured the four State NPF MLAs had resigned at the behest of their party high command.
However, he said he will not quit as the Congress high command has not asked him to do so.
Gaikhangam said this on the sidelines of a launch function of a language daily at Hatta in Imphal East.
The Deputy Chief Minister also clarified that he would not resign under pressure from a few sections.
Four MLAs belonging to Naga People's Front (NPF) resigned recently in protest against the three Bills passed in the State Assembly on August 31 .
He said the appeal by All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) and several other hill-based civil society groups to all tribal legislators for their resignation over the three Bills, aimed at protecting the indigenous people, is "totally
irrational" .
"I think the four NPF MLAs was acting at the behest of their party high command.
Our party high command has not asked for such things and so I will not resign," Gaikhangam said.
Gaikhangam said that not a single MLA in the House raised a single word against the three Bills when they were passed in the Assembly.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the four NPF MLAs did not raise any question to oppose the Bills in the House and now they are hiding the facts.
"Don't try to create trouble without reasonable grounds," he appealed all.
The United Naga Council (UNC) had said it neither supports nor opposes the Bills while the NPF president Awangbou Newmai had extended support to the Bills, Gaikhangam said.
Saying something else and later doing something strange thing should be avoided by everyone, the Deputy Chief Minister said without mentioning the names of UNC and NPF.
Gaikhangam reiterated that the three Bills will not affect the interest of the hill people in any way.
The current agitation in the hill districts over the three Bills is created due to a communication gap and misunderstanding, he stated.
The bills were passed by the Assembly in the interest of the State and that these Bills can be amended if they hurt the sentiment of any community, Gaikhangam assured.
He said the State Government is open for discussions with the aggrieved side to set things on the right course.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said Manipur cannot be a State without the Meetei, Naga and Kuki and urged for maintaining peace and harmony between the different groups.
Gaikhangam was the chief guest on the occasion.
He also lauded the group from Meetei-Pangal community for setting up the new media house.
All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) President Wangkhemcha Shamjai attended as the president of the function, Commerce & Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Agriculture Minister Md Abdul Nasir, Parliamentary Secretary for MOBC Amin Shah, WAKF Board Chairman Md Fajur Rahim, Manipur State Minority Commission Chairman A Helim Choudhary, Echel Group chairman Md Jalaluddin Shah and Imphal East Deputy Commissioner M Joy were the guests of hounor on the occasion.
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