10-min session insult to parliamentary system: Joy
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 30 2023: The mere 10-minute session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly on Tuesday was an embarrassment to the parliamentary system across the globe.

As such, the proceedings must not be accepted in any form, veteran politician O Joy urged the Governor.

Addressing a press meet held at his Kakwa residence on Wednesday, Joy said that the much-awaited session of the assembly ended in just 10 minutes.

It would not be wrong to assert the proceedings were not only an embarrassment for Manipur but for the parliamentary system across the globe.

Thus, he appealed to the Governor not to accept the proceedings in any form, as it was both unconstitutional and unparliamentary.

He continued that during Tuesday's session, the CM gave condolences, which included resolutions as well.

While the resolution for condolences was moved, congratulations were also offered regarding ISRO's Chandrayaan-3 moon landing, which is highly contradictory in itself, and not done elsewhere.

The proceedings can be said to have smashed all parliamentary proceedings across the world.

The best option at the moment would be to convene another session at the earliest to discuss the prevailing issues.

Additionally, CM Biren's speech in the House could be regarded as one of the shortest and most perfunctory speeches in the parliamentary history.

The session is basically against the people and parliamentary system.

On top of this, the chief minister, ministers and MLAs of the ruling BJP government failed to discuss any issue concerning the people of Manipur and instead fled the House after ten minutes, the former law minister remarked.

Regarding the statements made by BJP ministers to the media that the session could not continue due to disruption by Congress MLAs, Joy stated that the BAC sets the agendas to be taken during the session of the House.

When the agenda for the Tuesday's session was being prepared, it was decided to include the obituary references of six MLAs and business report.

However, it is questionable how the BAC meeting report could be included as an agenda.

It seems that only the two agendas were finalised to quicken the session.

"Furthermore, if the session had been truly disrupted by Congress, as alleged, can another session not be convened either on Wednesday or Thursday?" he posed.

The veteran politician then said that it would not be wrong to assume the government "planned" the agenda to avoid discussion on Manipur's issue and facilitate its escape.

While the session was convened as part of parliamentary tradition and various rulings, the opposition MLAs sensed the fear and the government's plan to run away and as such, tried to keep them in the House.

In this regard; if the Governor, chief minister or any other MLA wants to share their views, Joy said that he is fully prepared for the same.

The veteran politician further questioned the government why it was ignoring the people's wish to convene a normal session to discuss the prevailing situation in Manipur, which is almost like the second Seven .Years' Devastation.

It is also questionable why no MP from Manipur spoke, or rather lost their voices when the no-confidence motion was moved in the recent session of the parliament.

The ruling MLAs need to clarify whether the words of the BJP High Command are important or the is sues concerning the people of Manipur are more important.

The scenario of the voices of Manipur MPs being muffled in the parliament could be said to have spill over to the state Assembly, he asserted, while questioning "what use are the CM, minister and MLAs to the people of Manipur if they cannot even take up the present issues of the state in the House?".

Mentioning previous statements by MoS of External Affairs Dr K Ranjan of complete failure of law and order in Manipur, Joy said that 10 BJP MLAs had apprised the central BJP government that the people of the state no longer trust the government.

Minister Nemcha Kipgen, in her leave application, mentioned that the present situation is not safe.

As such, it needs to be questioned who is trying to bring in President's Rule in the state.

Meanwhile, of the 10 MLAs, six had applied for leave but forgot about the same and "ran away" fearing the discussion on issues of the people of Manipur, Joy chided.

Former MLA RK Anand, who also participated in the press meet, said that the Assembly is a sort of forum to discuss a solution for protection of human rights in the prevailing crisis of the state.

Considering the impact of the violence, the session should be held for at least a month.

The responsibility of the June 18 tragedy fell on the central government, which is known to all.

In the present scenario, the deliberate act of targeting Meetei populace by those bound by SoO is a serious matter.

As such, the assembly, in reality, should be held for a year to fix responsibilities.

However, Tuesday's session lasted only nine minutes, indicating that there is no democracy, and thus, no MLA, MP or government, he lamented.

Raising the people's concerns of the ethnic violence escalating into an all-out civil war, Anand said that the present government exists in name only and there is end of democracy, as proven by the situation in Manipur.

It is all due to the policies of Union Home minister Amit Shah and since he has failed to curb the four-month long violence, there is no need for him to continue being the union home minister.

The CSOs, who assured of protecting the integrity of Manipur, have failed to live up to the trust of the people.

Since they are unable to do so, they should hand over the responsibility to any other group who can, he said, while suggesting the CSOs to give up and the government to surrender if they cannot perform the responsibility.

"The people of Manipur will defend and protect Manipur," he contended.

In addition, as the Assembly is now defunct, the people need to search for an alternative, he stated and stressed for the local clubs and organisations to unite and launch a campaign to "Save Manipur, Save Constitution".

Former law minister L Jayantakumar also spoke to the newspersons highlighting the gravity of the prevailing violence in Manipur.

While the people were hopeful that convening the Assembly session could lead to possible solutions, the session made it seem as if the elected MLAs have zero idea about democracy.

The people have the highest power in a democracy, he remarked, while reminding the people not to take a long time in pointing out who is at fault in this fiasco.

Comment