Cong opposes assembly session by hoisting black flag
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 29 2023: Stating that the Manipur Legislative Assembly session held on Tuesday did not have any agenda to discuss the current crisis in the state, Congress has called the day a dark chapter in Indian Parliamentary democracy.

As a mark of protest against the abruptly adjourned session, Congress hoisted a black flag while terming Tuesday's session as an unconstitutional suppressive act on the part of the government.

Addressing a press conference after the session at Congress Bhaaan here on Tuesday, CLP leader and former chief minister Okram Ibobi said that the current crisis in the state is about to complete four months.

Apart from CSOs, Meira Paibi Lup and general public, Congress and like-minded political parties have been demanding a special session of the assembly to discuss the present crisis and adopt a resolution to uphold the territory of Manipur.

Speaking about the protest orchestrated by Congress MLAS holding placards, Ibobi contended that it necessitated as fate of the Constitution hanged in balance not only for the state but for the entire country.

Tuesday's sitting was a normal session but not a special session.

In fact, it was a desperate act of the government solely to prevent constitutional crisis and not in the interest of the state and its people.

Opposition proposed different resolutions related with the current crisis but the ruling party did not take any interest in it as the government believes in suppressing the voice of the opposition and the public while doing whatever if likes.

The day will remain as a dark chapter in the history of Indian democratic system, he remarked.

Ibobi also maintained that instead of discussing the present crisis, the House allowed only the obituary reference.

Congress did not want to disrupt the session or raise voice but compelled to express dissent against the dictatorial governance of the BJP government.

The BJP government has failed to keep its promises multiple times including the first attempt to hold assembly session and holding elections to ADC and local bodies.

After two decades of defiance, Congress government succeeded in holding ADC elections but the BJP government has stopped the democratic process once again, he said.

During his visit in the USA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi boasted of India being the "Mother of Democracy" but in reality, the double engine government has brought "Murder of Democracy".

Earlier in 2000, BJP government led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee burned Manipur on June 18.Today, the BJP government led by PM Modi is burning the state taking it into the brink of disintegration.

BJP is unsuited with the soil of Manipur and people should think twice be fore supporting such political parties in future, Ibobi said.

The Speaker, CM or council of ministers could propose to discuss the current crisis by suspending the business put up by BAC under Article 351 or they could propose for another session to discuss the issue.

However, they said nothing thereby showing that they do not care how many people die and how many get displaced.

All they care is to save the government, he added.

According to Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president MLA Keisham Meghachandra, the only agenda listed in the House was obituary reference and presentation of BAC report.

Congress submitted five private member resolutions in the interest of the people but the House did not announce any of them.

They also brought up the latest armed attack in Naranseina but the ruling turned down the issue.

As a result, Congress MLAs raised their voice in protest against the conduct of the Speaker and the CM.

Though they signed the attendance register, they also put dissent note as a mark of protest, he revealed.

Chipping in, MLA K Ranjit said that the opposition was hoping for a thorough discussion on the current crisis to bring out a way forward to resolve the situation.

The ruling was supposed to provide business list one day ahead to the members but that was not the case in Tuesday's session.

It seems that it is up to the public to defend themselves against any aggression since there is nothing to hope for from the government, he opined.

Regarding the leave application applied by six of the 10 Kuki MLAs, the Sugnu MLA said that Speaker does not have the authority to grant leave.

He should read out the leave application in the House and grant the leave after approval from the members.

Since the Speaker did not read out the application, the 10 MLAs should be marked as absent and whether they should be disqualified or not is a legal matter, he said.

Maintaining that the session was conducted not in the interest of the state and its people but in the interest of the government, MLA Th Lokeshwar asked the CSOs and Meira Paibi organisations what they would do in this situation.

The five opposition MLAs take serious view against the suppressive conduct of the government, he said.

On the other-hand, MLA O Surjakumar said that he also submitted a private member resolution against the creation of buffer zone since creating such line is akin to balkanisation, a step towards bifurcation.

There are several burning issues that would not be sub-judice and the House could discuss those issues.

Even though the government built temporary shelter houses for the displaced people, there are no beds in those houses.

There are also many appeals and demands of the displaced people in the relief camp, which need urgent intervention but the government suppressed all those voices, which is very unfortunate, he added.

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