Imphal, 29 August (MTNews): Manipur on 29 August had its shortest Assembly session for just 11 minutes after the Opposition Congress demanded an extension of the session for five more days to discuss the issues in the State. Except for the ten Kuki MLAs, the rest of the MLAs were present including the ten Naga MLAs.
This session of the Manipur assembly was the first since ethnic clashes and large-scale violence broke out in the state on 3 May.
Speaker of the House Thokchom Satyabrata adjourned the session sine die amidst the ruckus created by Congress. The Congress MLAs protested against the state government inside the House holding placards that read “Save Democracy.” The session was adjourned as the CLP leader Okram Ibobi started speaking on the Congress’s demand for a five-day extension. Senior politician O Joy termed the adjourned session as a dark spot in the political history of Manipur.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh in his address condoled the deaths of those killed in the violence and resolved to address all differences through dialogue and peaceful means for communal harmony in the state. The House also lauded the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on Moon and congratulated scientist N Raghu Singh, who is from Manipur and was in the ISRO team that led the mission.
However, the congress MLA started shouting “stop mockery, let’s save democracy” making the speaker urge the Opposition MLAs to sit down. However, the ruckus continued and the house was adjourned for 30 minutes. As the house reassembled, the Congress MLAs continued with their protest, upon which the Speaker adjourned the proceedings sine die.
The former Manipur chief minister and Congress veteran Okram Ibobi Singh had earlier said that the one-day assembly session in the state on 29 August was an “eyewash and not in public interest.”
Singh had said that the one-day “eyewash” session was called “since holding an assembly session before September 02 is a constitutional obligation.”
Reacting to the conclusion of the Manipur assembly session on August 29 in less than 30 minutes, Singh said 29 August will be remembered as a “dark day in the history of India’s democracy.”
The Congress party had demanded that the assembly session be extended for five days, which was rejected by the Manipur Speaker.
Later, the Manipur Congress hoisted black flag at the Congress Bhawan in Imphal to protest against “unconstitutional 4th session of 12th Manipur legislative assembly 2023.”