Manipur Government Upholds Constitutional Standards Against Congress Claims: Minister
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Imphal, Dec 24 (NationPress) Manipur's Legislative Affairs and Law Minister Basanta Kumar Singh on Tuesday rejected the accusations made by the opposition Congress that the state government has violated constitutional standards by not convening the winter session of the state Assembly.
Singh, who also oversees the Education portfolio, referenced the Constitution's provisions, which state that the sessions of the state legislative Assembly must meet at least twice annually, noting that both the budget and autumn sessions had already taken place this year.
The Minister emphasized that the Congress's claim regarding the state government breaching constitutional provisions by failing to call Assembly sessions is untrue.
“During the prior Congress administration led by former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh (2002-2017), the Assembly sessions were conducted twice in a calendar year on at least five occasions. The BJP government in Manipur has never contravened constitutional provisions,” he stated in a press briefing.
Singh asserted that the state government has consistently adhered to the required constitutional provisions.
Under normal circumstances, the state government convened the sessions of the Manipur Assembly three times from 2017 to 2020, he indicated.
He further explained that due to the Covid pandemic in 2021 and the onset of ethnic violence since May 3, 2023, the state government was unable to fulfill the stipulated provisions because of unavoidable circumstances and the hardships faced by the populace during this time.
The Legislative Affairs and Law Minister issued these clarifications shortly after the Congress opposition accused the BJP-led government of infringing constitutional provisions by not holding the winter session of the Assembly.
Former Chief Minister and prominent Congress figure Okram Ibobi Singh alleged on Saturday (December 21) that the BJP government in Manipur has been violating constitutional norms by not convening the winter session of the state Assembly.
Singh, also the leader of the Congress legislative party, stated that the state government is infringing upon the Constitution by failing to hold Assembly sessions within the designated time frame.
Referring to the constitutional guidelines and other regulations, the former Chief Minister informed the media that three Assembly sessions—budget, autumn, and winter—are mandated to occur within a calendar year.
However, he highlighted that the state government has yet to convene the winter session, even with the end of the calendar year approaching, adding that they have submitted a memorandum to the governor, the Speaker, and the chief minister urging them to convene the winter session promptly.
