Imphal, July 08 2010: One of the few senior most members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly and leader of MPP Legislature Party, O Joy today walked out of the House saying that he doesn't want to sit together in the same House with MLAs who want to break Manipur's territory.

The development arose when Opposition MLA O Joy raised a point of order in regard to the pending issue of resignation letters submitted by seven Naga Independent MLAs two months back.

It may be recalled that seven Naga Independent MLAs namely W Morung Makunga from Tengnoupal A/C of Chandel district, Awangbow Newmai from Tamei A/C of Tamenglong district, K Raina from Tadubi A/C, M Thorii from Mao A/C of Senapati district, Dr Khashim Ruivah from Chingai A/C and Danny Shaiza of Ukhrul A/C of Ukhrul and Wungnaoshung Keishing from Phungyar A/C of Ukhrul had submitted their resignation papers to the Assembly Speaker on May 6 .

However, the Speaker has not yet accepted their resignation.

Raising the point of order, MLA Joy drew the attention of the Speaker to various rules, and said that if a Member of the House really wants to resign from his membership, the Speaker can not stop him.

If the members inform the Speaker about their genuine intention to resign by sending resignation letters through fax or if the Speaker is sure of the Members' willingness to voluntarily resign, the Speaker has to accept their resignation letters.

If a member happens to change his mind even after submitting his resignation letter, he can withdraw his resignation letter before the Speaker gives his acceptance, MLA Joy said.

He said, the seven MLAs intention to resign from their Membership was very clear as it had been carried in local and national media.

But till now the Speaker has not given his acceptance to the resignation letters nor rejected them.

On the other hand, the MLAs who had submitted their resignation letters have also not withdrawn their resignation letters.

The question is why the Speaker has not yet accepted the seven MLAs' resignation.

Where are the resignation letters submitted by the MLAs? The Speaker has to place details about the issue, the MPP MLA demanded.

Replying to the point of order, Speaker Dr Sapam Budhichandra told teh House that the MLAs sent their resignation letters by fax on May 7 last from New Delhi.

He then summoned them on May 12 to give their personal explanations why they wanted to resign.

Speaker Dr Budhichandra informed the House that he was not satisfied with their explanations.

Therefore he has not taken a decision so far as to whether to accept their resignation or not.

He is still observing them and would take a decision in due course of time, the Speaker said.

He further said that since the rules do not lay down a specific period during which the resignation should be accepted or rejected, he was taking his own time.

To that, MLA Joy contended that the rules say that if the member's intention to resign was genuine and voluntary, the resignation must be accepted immediately.

An argument arose between the Speaker and the MLA.

Then MLA Joy demanded from the Speaker to place a concrete statement before the House whether to accept the seven MLAs' resignation or not.

Otherwise he would not like to sit together with MLAs who want to break Manipur's territory, he would go out of the House, MLA Joy said.

The Speaker retorted, "It doesn't matter." Then MLA Joy walked out of the House with dignity on his head.