ACs reject call to MLAs to resign

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 19: Several Constituencies have come out strongly against propositions for their MLAs to resign as elected Members of the State Assembly.
Konthoujam AC MLA Sapam Ranjan will not resign as an elected Member of the Assembly. Whether the MLA shall resign or not--this decision will be taken solely by the people of the Constituency, said Bharatiya Janata Party Konthoujam Mandal.
This decision was taken during a public meeting today attended by members of the BJP Konthoujam Mandal, his supporters and people of the Constituency.
When people stormed his house at Sanakeithel on November 16, the MLA heard their demands and agreed to fulfil their wishes by resigning from his post as a Minister and MLA, said the BJP Konthoujam Mandal.
However, as soon as he left his house on official business, people immediately stormed his house, vandalised properties and looted valuables including jewellery. Later, the Minister's house at Konthoujam Awang Leikai was looted and burnt down. Unfortunately, these ill motivated incidents undermined and derailed the public movement, added the BJP Mandal.
The BJP Konthoujam Mandal, the MLA's supporters and the people of the Constituency will minutely discuss the situation and study all possible outcomes and take further decisions on the matter. The ultimate decision lies with the people of the Constituency, it said.
Similarly, people of Sagolband Constituency will take the ultimate decision on matters concerning the proposal for the local MLA to resign as an MLA, said Sagolband Constituency Progressive Committee.
This, after a public meeting was held at Sagolband Bijoy Govinda Mandap today.
Members of the committee and people of the Constituency took part in the meeting.
At the meeting, Sagolband Constituency Progressive Committee's joint secretary, RK Ramananda said the vandalism of properties at MLA RK Imo on November 16 seemed politically motivated.
On the day, the MLA was at the CM's Secretariat and he talked to the people who came to his residence over the phone.
Even when the MLA assured the people that he would meet them in person and requested them to wait for about half an hour, the mob stormed his residence and vandalised properties, said RK Ramananda.
Many of the protesters were masked. They were wearing hoodies and carrying petrol bottles. The people of the Constituency condemn the incident, he added.
Ramananda reiterated that the people of the Constituency will decide if RK Imo will resign or not.
For Langthabal AC, Karam Shyam shall not resign as an elected Member, decided the Langthabal Kendra Committee in a meeting today.
The MLA shall not resign. Instead he must take important roles in resolving the Manipur crisis, said the committee.
Further, the MLA shall not accept any invitation or summon related  to the current crisis issued to him by any organisations in the Constituency, it added.
A public meeting was also held at the house of MLA Kongkham Robindro at Mayang Imphal Thana Awang Leikai today and took a similar stand.
MLA Kongkham Robindro will not resign alone. If all the MLAs must resign to resolve the conflict, MLA K Robindro will be the first to resign, said his supporters.
His supporters and locals of Constituency condemned a mob which vandalised and burnt properties at the MLA's residence at Laphupat Tera.