Cannot be called normal session: Congress
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 22 2023: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) remembered former chief minister Rishang Keishing on his 6th death anniversary on Tuesday.

Replying to a query raised by media persons on the sidelines of the tribute event held at Congress Bhawan, Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader and former chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh said assembly session being summoned by the Governor on August 29 cannot be a normal session and Congress party considers the upcoming session an emergency session as time for convening normal session had already lapsed.

Being an emergency session, MLAs will have no right to discuss about issues concerning people of the state including the ongoing violence.

Nevertheless, the Congress party will monitor what step the Governor takes on the decision of the state cabinet and whether there will be Business Advisory Committee meet or not.

It will be a little early for Congress party to disclose about issues to be raised in the upcoming session but would definitely welcome if it was a normal session, Ibobi said.

According to O Ibobi, Congress party has only five MLAs and issues to be raised by the party in the House will be discussed by convening CLP meet in the coming few days.

Earlier, O Ibobi led Congress MLAs, MPCC functionaries and party workers in paying floral tributes to portrait of Rishang Keishing.

While recalling contributions of Rishang Keishing for the state and the nation, he said Rishang was member of the first ever Parliament of independent India and served people of Manipur and the nation for a long time.

Rishang Keishing also shouldered immense responsibility towards safeguarding unity and integrity of India and Manipur, Ibobi added.

Meanwhile, MPCC president K Meghachandra said the state assembly session being summoned by the Governor on August 29 after short notice by the state cabinet will be either emergency or special session.

As per norms of Indian Constitution, normal session of assembly should be held every six months and accordingly the upcoming session cannot be normal session due to lapse of scheduled period.

Nevertheless, how the approval for convening the session was given will have to be seen and there is Constitutional crisis for lapse of normal session, Meghachandra observed.

Even though the Governor gave approval for convening emergency session of the state assembly, there will be no opportunity for MLAs to raise question or discuss on issues concerning the state particularly on bringing solution to the ongoing violence, Meghachandra said adding that such assembly session is violation of rights of the people and the loss of opportunity for resolving the present crisis.

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