MPP gives clean chit to Chaoba
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 31 2011: Clarifying that there is no question of the Central Committee of MPP, which is the highest decision taking body of the party, deciding to expel former Union Minister and advisor of the party Thounaojam Chaoba as he had not indulged in any anti-party activities, party leaders have questioned why the Union Home Minister, the Governor and the State Government remain silent at the attempt of some UG groups to abolish a democratic institute like the MPP, a political party.

Addressing a press conference in this connection at the party office here today afternoon, MPP president Dr Nimaichand Luwang decried the threats issued by Sunil Meitei of KCP (MTF) to him as well as the gun attack attack at his house.

In his threat, Sunil Meitei reportedly stated that MPP would be eliminated from the face of the world.

Dr Nimaichand said that some unidentified armed persons opened fire towards his residence at Yairipok at around 7.36 pm yesterday.

One of the bullets pierced through the gate and hit the wall of the house.

No one was hurt in the attack.

At that time, we were watching the cricket match on television along with some other people, he said.

After the attack, police rushed to the spot and recovered three empty cartridges of AK-47 and the eyewitnesses said that the armed attackers had come together in two Maruti cars and sped off from there after opening fire, Dr Nimaichand informed.

The MPP president said that since assuming the post of president of the party in July, 2009, he has been receiving various threats on his life Accordingly, he had written to the Chief Secretary in the October of the same year requesting for providing security.

Subsequently, Home Secretary too had written similar letter to the DGP.

But so far, no security have been provided, he lamented.

''Even as I was unhappy over denial of security despite threats on life, Sunil Meetei of KCP (MTF) had levelled various charges against the party in January this year and the threaten that party advisor Th Chaoba should expelled or else he (Dr Nimaichand Luwang) and party general secretary Ibomcha) would be killed and MPP would be abolished for good'', Dr Nimaichand said.

In a meeting with the Governor over such threats, the latter not only endorsed security coverage but also tried to contact the DGP for doing the needful.

However, as the DGP was out of Imphal, the Governor advised ADGP V Zathang for taking up necessary measures.

Yet no security escort have been arranged till date apart from sending two unarmed PSOs to the request for providing house guard cum armed escorts ,Dr Nimaichand rued.

On the issue of Th Chaoba, Dr Nimaichand said that the charges levelled against Chaoba by the UG group have been taken up for discussion in the Central Committee meeting of the party.

As Chaoba has not done anything against the party, the Central Committee has not taken any decision on the expulsion and so Chaoba would stay in MPP as party advisor.

Legislature Wing leader of the party O Joy asserted that since the protection and promotion of a democratic institute like the political organisation is within the framework of Indian Constitution, the Governor ought to take up the matter with the Centre.

The Governor is not only the representative of India Government but also the Constitutional head in the State.

So, it should be the responsibility of the Governor to safeguard the Constitution.

If the Government is going to neglect the issue, how is the Parliamentary form of Government supposed to exist ?, O Joy questioned, adding that it should be the duty of the Government to ensure protection and security against the attempt being made to abolish a political party.

Demanding that security escorts should be provided to Dr Nimaichand, O Joy categorically stated that in case of any eventuality over the failure of providing security escort, it should be assumed the Governor is involved and the Union Home Minister as well as the State Government are responsible.

The image of democracy should be tarnished with narrow politics and the silence of the Government over the issue is condemnable, O Joy added.

Th Chaoba, who was also present at the press conference, refuted all the charges levelled against him by the UG group and clarified that he had never promoted any gang.

Asking whether the ECI would not cancel the recognition of MPP if expulsion is done at the behest of some armed UG group, Chaoba demanded that the same sort of protection being given to Congress party should be accorded to MPP as well.

The party would be approaching the Governor over the issue of security escort once more, and if it is not provided then the matter would be taken with the Union Home Minister, Chaoba informed.

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