Cong presents case to President
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 24 2021: Congress MLAs met President Ram Nath Kovind today and submitted a memorandum to disqualify 12 MLAs of the BJP-led State Government who had served as Parliamentary Secretaries.

The memorandum, signed by 12 Congress MPs and 17 Congress MLAs of the State Government, was submitted to the President at 11.45 today morning at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Congress Working Committee (CWC) permanent member and former Deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam, All India Congress Committee (AICC) Manipur in-charge, Bhakta Charan Das, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Govindas Konthoujam and MLA DD Thaisii were among those who met President Ramnath Kovind.

After meeting the President, MPCC president Govindas Konthoujam told media persons that the memorandum mentions that the BJP-led Manipur Government has been violating and disrespecting the spirit of the Constitution since day 1 of its formation and it (the memorandum) also charges the Manipur Governor of not guarding the Constitution.

"The memorandum was submitted to the President as the Governor has been flouting the law since the formation of the BJP-led Government till today.

The Governor is even denying the MLAs the right to meet her in person," he said.

Govindas stated that he apprised the President that Congress had emerged as the single largest party in the 2017 general Assembly elections winning 28 seats of the total 60.However, BJP which won only 21 seats was invited to form the coalition Government.

Shortly after the formation of the Government, it had appointed 12 MLAs as Parliamentary Secretaries against the Constitution.

Expressing hope that the President would do justice in the case and disqualify the 12 Parliamentary Secretaries, Govindas mentioned that the High Court of Manipur on September 17, 2020 had given its verdict that the appointment of the 12 Parliamentary Secretaries was illegal and against the Constitution.

The Court gave the verdict while hearing a petition filed by Congress MLAs, DD Thaisii and Surjakumar Okram.

Following the High Court verdict, Congress MLA DD Thaisii submitted a petition to the Governor to disqualify the 12 MLAs on the ground of holding office of profit.

Afterwards, the Governor sent a letter to the ECI (Election Commission of India) seeking its opinion.

However, the ECI never gave its opinion and this had forced Congress to approach the ECI in early January this year, he said, adding that the "High Court's verdict was stuck with the ECI" .

Congress had urged the ECI to give its opinion and let the Governor take her decision.

The party had also sought the reason for withholding their opinion and asked the ECI to give its response at the earliest, he added.

He further stated that after not getting the response from the ECI, Congress approached the Supreme Court and the top Court had then served a notice the ECI giving it two weeks time to give its opinion on the issue of disqualification/office of profit case.

Afterwards, the ECI had then informed Congress that it had communicated with the Governor and advised the party to meet the Governor.

However, the communication between the ECI and the Governor was intimated to petitioner MLA DD Thaisii and attempts to meet the Governor was denied.

As such, Congress decided to meet the President and submit the memorandum, said Govindas.

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