MPP for dropping Minister Nasir
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Imphal, November 27 2012:
Senior leader of the Manipur people's Party (MPP) Okram Joy Singh has strongly condemned mis-conduct of Agriculture Minister Md Abdul Nasir at the Manipur Sangai Festival venue last evening and demanded the Minister's ouster from the Council of Ministers.
Reacting to the alleged assault of a Congress party worker by Minister Abdul Nasir at a stall of the ongoing Festival yesterday, the veteran politician opined that involvement of the Minister in the fracas in full view of several onlookers is an anti-dote to efforts of putting up Manipur on the global map of tourism.
Nasir, who was present at the sixth day of the festival as functional chief guest, should be sacked from his post and expelled from Congress Party as well for his act that had been committed inside the venue of the international level festival, MPP advisor O Joy told journalists at the party's office.
The fact that the incident took place after the Minister attended the day's event as the chief guest is even more appalling and clearly indicates political naivety of Abdul Nasir, said O Joy while questioning political background and class of the Minister.
Contrary to the festival's aim for promoting tourism industry of Manipur the incident is not only a shame for the entire populace but also yet another testimony that there is no rule of law in Manipur, maintained the former legislator.
Questioning why no punitive action has been initiated against Abdul Nasir, he also wondered whether there would be similar leniency in case an ordinary citizen was involved in such an incident.
Criticising the present Government for its failure to pull up the Minister, Joy pointed out that in the 1990s when RK Ranabir was heading the MPP-led Government, the then Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Mutum Deben was removed from the Council of Ministers for the latter's involvement in assaulting a student near NCC office.
Expressing that misconduct of the Agriculture Minister amounts to portraying Manipur in bad light as the Festival is being attended by a number of foreign tourists, the MPP leader insisted that Abdul Nasir do not deserve to remain as a Minister.
He further suggested that Governor of Manipur and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam discuss the incident and initiate due process to drop Abdul Nasir from the council of ministers.
It is unfortunate that the security personnel manning the festival had remained as silent spectators when minister Nasir bashed up Md Alam Azad in a fit of rage right under their nose, Joy said.
The security personnel would have shown their strange boldness if Nasir was a civilian, he added.
Noting that ministers are not above the law and neither they are masters of the land, Joy said the statement of the police that an FIR has been filed against the escort commander of minister Nasir in connection with the incident is totally irrational.
The FIR should have been registered against the minister and take prompt action against him, Joy demanded, appealing to the Deputy Chief Minister and president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, Gaikhangam to take immediate disciplinary action against Nasir.
Joy also alleged that the number of ministers like Nasir, who have no political culture of their own, is increasing in the state and accused such type of leaders of transforming the sacred state assembly as a lucrative business centre.
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