New Govt wins motion of confidence

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 5: The new Government led by Yumnam Khemchand sailed through a motion of confidence with ease at the State Assembly today.
The 7th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly was held today with Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata in the chair.
Chief Minister and leader of the House, Yumnam Khemchand raised a motion of confidence.
As soon as the motion of confidence was raised, CLP leader and former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi laid down several points.
Congress Members K Ranjit, K Meghachandra, Th Lokeshwor and O Surjakumar too took part in discussing the motion.
They raised several points which they want the new Government to implement in connection with the protracted violent crisis.
After Chief Minister Y Khemchand gave his comments, the House unanimously passed the motion through voice vote.
Citing a proceeding of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Khemchand appealed to all Members of the House to accept fellow Members attend the session virtually, and the House accepted the Chief Minister’s appeal.            
Khemchand also appealed to all Members to help the Government in bridging the trust deficit between the two communities in conflict.
“It is the foremost duty of each one of us to bring peace and normalcy in Manipur”, he said.
The State had witnessed communal conflicts in the past too, he said.
He also appreciated the CLP leader and other Opposition Members for their assurance to help the Government in its efforts to resolve the current crisis instead of blaming or criticising the Government.
Former Chief Minister O Ibobi stated that President’s Rule was imposed in the State at a time when every section of people was suffering extreme misery on account of the violent crisis which erupted on May 3, 2023.
But the people were not satisfied with the performance of the PR adminis- tration and its efforts to enforce law and order, Ibobi said.
Even small matters which could have been dealt with at the level of Commissioner/Secretary were taken to the Governor-in-Council or left to be handled by the future popular Government, Ibobi remarked.
The Central Government might have imposed PR in the State out of compulsion.  The Congress party proposed a fresh election to seek people’s mandate if the term of the PR was to be extended for a popular Government is an utmost necessity of the State, he said.
Convening an Assembly session today after the Chief Minister and a few Ministers were sworn in yesterday is quite surprising, Ibobi said before adding “This does not mean we oppose the motion of confidence nor can we defeat the motion.”
The primary duties of a Government are strict enforcement of law and order  and protecting the lives and properties of citizens, Ibobi stated.
Until and unless law and order is enforced properly and citizens’ lives and properties are secured, there will be no peace. When there is no peace, there will be no development, the former Chief Minister said.
Calling upon one and all to work collectively in order to bring peace in Manipur, the CLP leader urged the Government to accept constructive ideas suggested by the Opposition toward restoring peace and normalcy in the State.
He then appealed to all communities to refrain from doing anything which threatens or undermines the State’s integrity and its territorial boundary in the name of demanding one’s rights.
K Ranjit pointed out that the people in the valley have been voicing a strong desire for peace and normalcy but no such voice has come from the hills till date.
The situation in the hills is complete lawlessness. Armed groups have been dictating terms and suppressing the common people at gunpoint. A lot of people in the hills yearn for peace and normalcy, he said.
Ranjit then urged the Government to take decisive action against all those elements challenging law and order as well as against illegal immigrants.
Until and unless those miscreants are neutralised and stringent actions initiated against illegal immigrants, peace and normalcy will remain elusive, he said.
Minister Govindas Konthoujam moved a motion of thanks to the Governor’s address and it was seconded by Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho.
Chief Minister Y Khemchand presented a Business Advisory Committee (BAC) report.
Later, Speaker Th Satyabrata adjourned the session sine die.