Imphal, August 12 2009: Stating that it is now upto the Congress MLAs now to remove Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, as he has remained clinging to his post inspite of strong demand of the people and political parties to resign on moral ground over the July 23 fake encounter at Khwairamband Bazar, MPP president Dr Nimaichand Luwang today informed that MPP would be filing a PIL in the Court against imposition of curfew.

Addressing a press conference at the party office here today, Dr Nimaichand observed that the refusal of the Chief Minister to step down on moral ground has thrown all the politicians in bad light.

As it would be impossible for the Opposition, which has only 19 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly, to remove the Chief Minister, even by moving a no-confidence motion, it is in the hands of the ruling Congress MLA to do the needful, Dr Nimaichand said.

The MPP leader said that this does not mean toppling the Government but replacement of the Chief Minister by a more efficient person.

Dr Nimaichand pointed out that the CPI, which is a partner in the SPF Government and MLAs of other political parties, which are supporting the Government, have an important role to play in removing the Chief Minister.

Asserting that there is prima facie evidences that the bullets that killed Sanjit and Rabina in the July 23 incident were fired by the police commandos, Dr Nimaichand said Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh should be ready to accept the responsibility for giving a wrong statement in the Assembly in connection with the incident and making one SI scapegoat is not acceptable.

Saying that MPP strongly condemned the arrest and detention of some protestors under NSA, he also demanded unconditional release of the arrested protestors immediately.

Maintaining that imposition of curfew without any valid reason has not only paralysed functioning of the schools, colleges and Government offices by also affected the economy activities in the State, Dr Nimaichand informed that MPP would be filing a PIL in the Gauhati High Court to the curfew for good.

Furthermore, Dr Nimaichand disclosed that MPP is planning to organise a public dialogue on fake encounter incidents including the July 23 incident at Khwairamband Bazar.

Party spokesman MLA RK Anand, who was also present during the press conference, questioned effectiveness of encounter insurgency operation in the State and contended that there is the need to disband the existing police commando unit.

He suggested that instead of imposing curfew and causing hardship to the people, the Government should try to initiate talks with the protestors to bring about an amicable solution.

Demanding immediate lifting of the curfew and unconditional release of the members of the Apunba Lup who are being detained under NSA, the MLA also pointed out that a check should be conducted to find out how many unauthorised weapons are there in the barrack of the police commandos.

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