'MLA's shall not resign merely under pressure from some groups'

From our special correspondent

IMPHAL Sept 10: The deputy chief minister Gaikhangam who is also the state unit Congress president has clarified that the MLAs shall not resign merely under pressure from some groups. The MLAs had been elected by the people and as such they shall not resign. He was responding to the growing demand from tribal organizations for the resigtion of the elected members.

It may be recalled that four MLAs of the ga People’s Front had already submitted their resigtions to the office of the Speaker on Monday. There are 16 more tribal MLAs whose resigtions the tribal outfits are demanding.

He said that the three bills passed in the Assembly on August 31 are in the larger interest of the all communities in the state. There is no clause in the bills which had shall the interest of the tribals. If it is made out that some tribals will be victimized the government could hold discussions. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi had pointed out that such offending clauses would be removed or amended even if the bills become Acts. Gaikhagam said that there has been no response from the civil society organisations. He said that there were agitations during whih nine persons had lost their lives. This was due to misunderstanding or a communication gap.

He clarified that when the bills were being passed there was no objection from any member of the House. Home commentators had opined that it is because of some hidden agenda that the four NPF MLAs had resigned. They had never said during the session or shortly after what they are now saying. It may be recalled that while submitting the resigtion letters that they said that they were not given any chance to demand for a demand. Stating the same the NPF Manipur unit president Solomon Veno said that the NPF MLAs were denied these since

the Congress government in Manipur is anti ga.

Now the tribal organizations are resorting to localized blockades, closure of educatiol institutes and government offices demanding withdrawal of the bills. Some organisations demanded political autonomy while the former insurgents who had come overground after signing the suspension of operations are demanding talks to bring about a solution. The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights is saying that now that the government has made some clarifications all should join hands to bring about an amicable solution. The government should bear the expenses for the traditiol burial of the nine dead persons whose putrid bodies are creating health problems in Churachandpur since there is facility for cold storage. The decomposed bodies are releasing intolerable stench in the localities.