In reply to show cause notice, RK Imo tongue lashes Ibobi

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Aug 6: “I strongly believe that the Congress party will never come back to power in the State of Manipur as long as a self-serving person like O Ibobi Singh remains as its leader,” stated Sagolband MLA Rk Imo Singh today.
The MLA said this while replying to a show cause notice served on him and which was published on July 25 in the local newspapers.
The MLA said it would be in the best interest of the INC to remove O Ibobi Singh as the leader of CLP and if it is done many MLAs and other leaders of the party will surely come back, which will in-turn strengthen the INC in the State.
“I also take this opportunity to raise one important issue which is haunting the Congress MLAs, Congress workers, and general public in the State, wherein it is widely deliberated that O Ibobi Singh is misleading the Congress party by trying to create political unrest in the State, for his own selfish political interest, especially at this crucial juncture of Covid-19 pandemic, particularly when there is a spike of hundred(s) of new corona cases almost every day, in addition to Covid-19 related deaths in the State.
“This has not gone down well amongst the public and the popularity of Congress party has taken a serious beating due to the selfish and untimely political expedition of O Ibobi Singh and this according to my sincere opinion will directly hamper the prospects of Congress Party in the next State Assembly election.”
There is a serious discontentment amongst the members of the Congress party against O Ibobi Singh, the MLA said.
His (Ibobi) involvement in various scandals, including Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases, has destroyed the credibility of Congress party in the State.
Despite being the Chief Minister of Manipur for 15 years on the trot, his gross arrogance and lackadaisical attitude led to the Congress losing out on returning to power despite winning 28 seats in the 2017 Assembly elections, charged the Congress MLA further. After this several Congress MLAs and former Ministers left the party.
Another major set-back of the Congress party in the State is the action of O Ibobi Singh in removing and sidelining TN Haokip as president of Pradesh Congress Committee, unceremoniously just before the last Lok Sabha elections, which also resulted in Congress party losing both seats of the Lok Sabha, which it held for last 15 years.
In view of the above, there is a large scale feeling of discontentment amongst the Congress Workers in the State of Manipur; and many leaders, well-wishers and patrons of the Congress party are on the verge of quitting the party.
Replying to the show cause notice the MLA said show cause notice is grossly misconceived and misplaced, as such the allegations are baseless and denied in toto.
“It is true that I voted in favour of the Maharaja of Manipur in the recent Rajya Sabha election held on June 19, as according to my conscience he is the most deserving and capable person to hold the post of the Member of Rajya Sabha as he represents the collective will of the people of Manipur.
According to the provisions of Section 59 of the Representations of People Act, 1951; the provisions of the Constitution of India and the rules framed by Election Commission of India; the whip issued by a political party does not apply in the Election to Council of States (Rajya Sabha).
It is also submitted in this regard that the Supreme Court of India, in the case of Kuldip Nayar Vs Union of India, has settled the Law of the land under Article 141 of the Constitution of India that an elected MLA would not face any disqualification from the membership of the House for voting in a particular manner in the election for Rajya Sabha.
“Having said that, I am still a member of INC and so far I have never made any statement against the party, nor do I intend to make any such statement in future.”
Wangkhei MLA O Henry who also received the show cause notice, in his reply said “I voted in favour of the titular king of Manipur, Maharaja Leishemba Sanjaoba, in the recent Rajya Sabha Election held on June 19, as I truly believe that his highness has ushered in peace and harmony between the Hill and valley people in the State.
“I had to choose my moral ground over the party decision and elected Maharaja Sanajaoba as MP of Rajya Sabha in National interest,” added the MLA.