Convene winter session of Assembly, demands Cong BJP Govt violating Constitution, says Ibobi

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 21: Even though the Constitution of India categorically says that there should be at least three sessions of State Assemblies in a year, the BJP Government of Manipur has not yet called the State Assembly’s winter session, thereby flagrantly violating the Constitution.
This was stated by former Chief Minister and CLP leader Okram Ibobi at a press meet held at Congress Bhavan, BT Road here today.
Ibobi urged the BJP Government to convene a session of the State Assembly by issuing a short notice so as to discuss the protracted violent crisis and explore a solution.
The BJP Government has been violating all the articles and provisions of the Constitution. Rather, it is acting at its own whims, he said.
The Indian Constitution’s Article 174 (Rule of Procedure and Conduct of Business) and Article 174(A) say that State Assemblies should hold at least three sessions in a year.
As per Article 174, there should be three sessions of all elected State Assemblies in a year viz; budget session, autumn session and winter session, he elaborated.
The budget session and the autumn session for the current year have been held  but the winter session has not been convened yet even though today is the 21st December.
On the other hand, the Parliament’s winter session has concluded and winter sessions of many State Assemblies have either concluded or are going on, Ibobi said.
Even though there is little time left for holding the winter session of Manipur State Assembly, the Government has not yet initiated any process to convene the winter session, he remarked.
Saying that there is no question of the Opposition party politicising the matter, the CLP leader urged the Government to initiate due process for holding the State Assembly’s winter session without any further delay.
The Congress party was waiting eagerly for the State Government to convene the winter session but there was no move from the Government to this effect. As such, the Congress party has submitted a memorandum to the Governor who is the Constitutional head of the State to convene the State Assembly’s winter session, he said.
A similar memorandum has also been submitted to the Speaker who is also the custodian of the State Assembly. A copy of the same memorandum was submitted to the Chief Minister yesterday, he said.
With the incumbent BJP Government violating all the articles and provisions of the Constitution, it is now not clear whether there is a democratically elected Government in Manipur or not, the former Chief Minister asserted.
The kind of governance seen today in Manipur is quite similar to dictatorship, he continued.
All the people of Manipur know that they are being subjected to a dictatorial form of governance by the Government. Meanwhile, the people have been asking the Congress party to exert pressure on the Government so that the State Assembly’s winter session is convened without any further delay, he said.
Ibobi said that the Congress party has been giving constructive suggestions to the Government to bring an end to the protracted crisis and restore peace in the State.
If the Government fails to discharge its duties responsibly, the Congress party will not remain silent, he said.  
There are several provisions under which an Assembly session can be summoned by issuing a short notice, Ibobi said.
He then urged the Government to let the democratic institution of State Assembly function properly.
Asserting that what the Congress party is saying is in the interest of the people, Ibobi appealed to the State Government to convene the Assembly session, discuss the protracted crisis and explore a solution.
Normally, the Governor should summon Assembly sessions 15 days ahead of the commencement of the session. If it is not convenient for the Governor to summon the winter session due to shortage of time, there are several provisions in the Constitution under which Assembly sessions can be convened at short notice, Ibobi said.
The Government may be knowing this fact. If they are unaware of this fact, the Congress party would be happy to help the Government on the matter, the CLP leader said.
Even if the BJP Government is becoming dictatorial, Congress party will work hand in hand with the people to save democracy and uphold the Constitution, Ibobi said.
Deputy CLP leader K Ranjit, MPCC president K Meghachandra, MLA Th Lokeshwar, ex-Minister N Loken, ex-MLA Dr Khwairakpam Loken and ex-MLA Amin Shah were also present at the press meet.