PEC meet held, Joy submits additional documents
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 13 2024: The much-awaited meeting of the Privilege and Ethics Committee (PEC) of Manipur Legislative Assembly was convened on Tuesday.

Chaired by Committee chairman MLA Sapam Nishikant, three MLA members namely RK Imo, O Surjakumar and Ashab Uddin attended the meeting which began from 11am while MLAs Premchandra, S Kunjakeshore and Abdul Nasir, also in the committee, missed the same.

Notably, meeting of the PEC was conducted following intense and persistent pressure from the women organisation, Imagi Meira.

Veteran politician Okram Joy Singh, who filed a complaint petition against 10 Kuki MLAs demanding separate administration, appeared in the PAC meeting.

O Joy's petition sought action against the 10 Kuki MLAs who are attempting to disintegrate Manipur by demanding a separate administration for Kuki-Zo people despite taking the oath to abide by the Indian Constitution and to protect and preserve integrity of Manipur.

After the end of the PAC meeting, O Joy told media persons in front of Manipur Legislative Assembly complex that he appeared before the PAC to verify the complaint he had lodged against 10 Kuki MLAs, whose separate administration demand is not only totally unethical and unacceptable but also tantamount to dishonouring the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

According to O Joy, there is no crime more heinous than attempting to break apart the land despite taking oath in the assembly to safeguard and bring welfare in the land one resides.

This was exactly what the 10 Kuki MLAs are doing but final decision on whether the MLAs would be pardoned or action taken against them is to be decided by the state assembly after the PAC table its report in the august House.

Speaker of the assembly will verify documents relating to the petition submitted to the PEC and the Speaker will refer the same documents to the House for conclusion of the matter.

The House will decide what action is to be taken against the 10 Kuki MLAs under Rule 92 of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, he elaborated, adding that he lodged the complaint petition with the objective of protecting and preserving dignity of the state assembly and the integrity of Manipur.

The veteran politician further said that he lodged the complaint petition to the Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly on May 18, 2023 with copy of the same submitted to the Prime Minister of India.

The PM's reply to the complaint petition advised Manipur government to take action against the 10 MLAs but no action has been initiated till date, O Joy claimed.

In addition to the documents already submitted, O Joy also furnished additional documents relating to the cornplaint petition during the Tuesday's PEC meet with the new documents containing media reports of the memorandum submitted by the 10 Kuki MLAs to the United Nations.

If the documents submitted to the PEC happen to be fake and incorrect, the privilege committee can punish him and accordingly submitted the additional documents, O Joy explained, adding that he had so far attended PEC meeting thrice.

Mention may be made that people of the state have been demanding convening of meeting of the PEC to discuss about 10 Kuki MLAs who have been demanding a separate administration and the women's organisation, Imagi Meira, has been spearheading protest in this regard for the past few months.

The PEC meeting was convened after the Speak er of Manipur Legislative Assembly recently assured Imagi Meira of summoning the meeting before February 14 .

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