TODAY -
Committee apprises PM on Monika row
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 27: Leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice on the controversial exclusion of weightlifter Laishram Monika Devi from the Beijing Olympic Games, the 'Coordinating Committee against the Conspiracy to Exclude Laishram Monika Devi from Beijing Olympics by the Government of India' today submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

In the representation the Committee clearly pointed out that exemplary punishment should be initiated against all found guilty in denying Monika the rightful place to compete with the best in the world.

The Committee also highlighted that Monika had been falsely implicated with fictitious charge of failing dope test.

"We have placed the memorandum to the PM this morning and we also hope that he would do the needful to take fitting action against the officials responsible for ousting Monika from the just concluded Beijing Olympics," informed Yumnam Jiten, the committee's assistant coordinator over phone from New Delhi.

exclusion of Monika under controversial circumstances had evoked strong reaction from various section particularly in the North Eastern region with many organisations expressing solidarity to Monika, who hails from Nachou in Bishnupur district.

Consequent to the hue and cry raised in the State as well as no less than the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh along with the Sports Minister N Biren Singh apprising the matter to the Prime Minister, the Central Government has already instituted an inquiry headed by former chief election commissioner TS Krishnamurthy.

Casting aspersions over sincerity and integrity of officials of Sports Authority of India (SAI) and functionaries of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the committee urged the PM to initiate prompt and appropriate punitive action against those found guilty in the matter.

While highlighting resolution adopted at a public meeting for boycotting all zonal, national and international level competitions, the memorandum mentioned that Government of India should apologise to the people of manipur for plotting against Monika in particular and sports fraternity in general.

"we also incorporated the people's mandate to stop taking part in all sports competitions beyond Manipur until the guilty officials are given exemplary punishment in our memo," Jiten added.

Commenting on the committee's initiative to move the Supreme Court against Monika's ouster he said "we have now begun consulting with lawyers from Manipur practising in the apex court to file the case".

"As of now there is no specific resolution as to who would file the case but the matter would be sorted out very soon," Jiten maintained.

Monika, who recently received a hero's welcome in Manipur, had said that she stood by the decision taken by the people to skip all sporting competition beyond Manipur.





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