Special session by 3rd week of August: Ranjan
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 27 2023:
A 'special assembly session' to discuss the prevailing crisis in Manipur will be convened by the third week of August next, assured Information and Public Relations minister Dr Sapam Ranjan, Thursday.
Minister Ranjan made the revelation during a press conference held the conference hall of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) here on Thursday.
It may be mentioned that various CSOs, meira pai-bi organisations and public including the Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and Federation of Civil Society Organisations (FOCS) have been demanding the state government to conduct a 'special assembly session' to discuss the current crisis in the state, take a united decision and place the demand to the union government.
Dr S Ranjan also clarified that the state government is very much concerned about any casualties caused due to the crisis while conveying that there is no 'forgotten MLA' during this juncture of Manipur crisis as reported in some section of the national media.
Reacting to national media reports, minister Ranjan informed that there is no negligence or ignorance by the state government in the event of any casualty suffered during the ongoing crisis and stressed the importance verifying any sensitive incidents to avoid legal implication.
The unwanted incident of the May 4 attack on MLA Vungzagin Valte by an unruly mob is highly condemnable.
The state government with all its efforts instantly took up necessary steps tin the day and took the MLA to RIMS for necessary treatment.
The next day he was airlifted to Apolllo Hospital in Delhi for further treatment.
The MLA was seen off by PHE minister Leishangthem Susindro and chairman (labour) Sarat to the airport.
AH expenditures of his treatment will be borne by the state government.
The government has been keeping in touch with the hospital authority regarding the health status of the MLA by assigning and officer on special duty.
In addition, education minister Th Basanta and party president A Sharda even went to Delhi to check his health condition, he elaborated.
The minister also expressed happiness over the recovery of the MLA and shared his sympathy to the family and also prayed for full speedy recovery so that he could return to serve the state and its people.
According to agency report, Governor Anusuiya Uikey agreed to summon an emergency session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly to discuss the prevailing situation relating to the ongoing ethnic violence in the state and find an amicable solution.
The Congress Legislature Party, led by its leader and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, called on the Governor at the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday, which was the third time that the Opposition Congress pressed the Governor for a special session of the assembly.
After the meeting, Ibobi told reporters that the Governor informed the Congress delegation that she would inform the Chief Minister to convene a special session of the state cabinet.
Once the state cabinet passes a resolution, the Governor will summon the special session.
During the meeting, the Congress legislators requested the Governor to convene an emergency session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly-under Article 174(l) of the Constitution of India to discuss the gravity of the present turmoil in the state and find an everlasting solution.
Ibobi also questioned why the ruling government in the state has hesitated to call a special assembly session to discuss the present crisis in Manipur.
' He also .criticized the Prime Minister for remaining silent for the whole three months of the Manipur crisis and demanded that the Prime Minister should answer every question raised about Manipur in Parliament.
In response to a question from a reporter about the recent influx of illegal Myanma-rese immigrants into Manipur after passing through the southern part of the state, Ibobi categorically stated that they must be pushed back by the border guards.
At present, Assam Rifles personnel are guarding the Manipur-Myanmar border.
Ibobi also raised his suspicion on whose instigation some civil society organizations like the Information Centre for Hill Areas Manipur (ICHAM) hindered the 10-km long border fencing during his tenure as Chief Minister on the ground that the border fencing would sacrifice some areas of Manipur.
He asked where ICHAM has gone now.
The Manipur Legislative Assembly has 60 members, of which the Congress has 5, the largest opposition party.
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