Ranjit-Biren no longer on good terms
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 01 2024:
Though known for their friendship in the political circle during the Congress-led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government under chief minister Okram Ibobi, incumbent chief minister N Biren and Sugnu MLA K Ranjit are no longer on good terms as the two had a heated exchange of words in the ongoing state assembly session on Friday.
During Friday's sitting, Congress legislator K Ranjit enquired about details of security personnel killed in the current crisis in the state.
In response, CM Biren said that he could not reveal names of the security personnel in the House as they are confidential.
He also said that the government has provided financial assistance to all security personnel killed in the line of duty as per existing policies.
Ranjit further enquired why the government paid Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia to a policeman, who was killed while attacking civilians in the foothill village, instead of filing criminal case against him, and added if there was any reason for not saying that the government is supporting the crisis.
In response, Biren said that there is no official report of the police personnel attacking civilians, to which MLA Ranjit brought up the case of police SI Onkhomang Haokip, who was shot dead inside the bunker of Kuki militants on the western side of Phubala on September 13 last year.
He said that report of the incident was published in the media and several CSOs had raised objection against the ex-gratia.
In response, CM Biren raised objection saying that it is not appropriate on using communal tone in the House.
He enquired if there was any evidence that support the claim of the SI attacking Meetei civilians, and added that as per official report from the SP concerned, the SI was hit by a bullet while on patrol.
As such, the government paid the ex-gratia based on the official report of the SP, and as per existing policy.
Interestingly, in a wholly unrelated matter, chief minister N Biren accused MLA Ranjit of literally burning Sugnu by forming a peace committee on May 4 outside of his ability and suggested the opposition member to be sensitive in bringing up matters in the House.
In response to the allegation from the leader of the House, MLA Ranjit said that the matter is going sideways, and added that it was the peace committee formed under his supervision that kept Sugnu safe, despite its vulnerable location, for 24 days.
In the meantime, sensing the brewing trouble, he sought assistance from the government in the form of four companies of state security forces to maintain status quo.
However, the government did not responded to his request, which resulted in the unwanted outcome, he lamented.
Ranjit further requested the Speaker to discuss the matter for half an hour so that he could clear the matter, which was rejected by the Speaker.