Cong urges Assembly session
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 26 2023:
The Congress has once again urged Governor Anusuiya Uikey to call an emergency session of the State Assembly under Article 174 (1) of the Constitution to deliberate on the Manipur violence.
Today, a team of all Congress MLAs led by former Chief Minister and CLP leader Okram Ibobi called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to convene an emergency session of the State Assembly.
It may be mentioned that the Congress party had submitted a similar memorandum to the Governor earlier too.
Addressing the media in front of Raj Bhavan, O Ibobi said that the violence in Manipur has taken a toll on every Manipuri and as such the Government should convene a session of the Assembly and possibly work out a solution.
Shutting down of internet services and disturbances on normal functioning of educational institutions amplify the woes of the people, the former Chief Minister continued.
The Government is unable to control law and order in Manipur since the past over two months and the same can be seen in the Moreh incident of today where dozens of houses and shops were set aflame by miscreants, he maintained and added that the monsoon session of the Parliament has also been disturbed by Manipur violence.
Why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi hellbent on remaining silent on Manipur violence at Parliament, he asked and questioned if Manipur is not a part of India.
People may wonder why the Opposition refused the proposal of the Government to discuss Manipur violence, O Ibobi said and clarified that the Central Government gave only half an hour to discuss the issue besieging the State and the same was disapproved by the Opposition parties.
Opposition parties wouldn't get any time to speak about Manipur if the discussion is to be held for only 30 minutes, O Ibobi further said and asserted that it would be impossible to discuss Manipur violence in just half an hour.
Further stating that the Opposition parties have been mounting pressure to deliberate on Manipur violence by suspending all other agenda, the former Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister must also be present during the discussion as Manipur violence has become a global issue and respond the questions put up by Opposition parties.
"It is the third time we have urged the Governor to convene a special session of the State Assembly as the Government has failed to do its part," he added.
Saying that the Governor has conveyed her willingness to summon the Assembly session to them if the Cabinet seeks her approval, O Ibobi continued that the Governor has also agreed to apprise the Chief Minister of their (the Congress party) demand.
To a query, the former Chief Minister said that they, during their tenure, started the fencing works along Indo-Myanmar border to check infiltration and drug trafficking but the same was forced to stop on the claim of Manipur losing territory.