Imphal, July 27 2009: Manipur Assembly Speaker today referred a 'communal tinctured' letter that was delivered to MLA O Joy by a person who came in a pilot vehicle belonging to a Minister just before the start of the Assembly session this morning around 9.30 to the Privilege Committee after discussions on the matter.

Just when the discussion on Appropriation Bill began, Opposition member O Joy said that he got a letter reportedly from Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing.

He said, the letter contained many 'communal' words.

He got the letter from a CID officer, L Tomba, who was on duty at the gate of the Assembly hall.

The letter is written in Roman script but Manipuri language.

Joy said, not only the paper of the letter has its origin from the Assembly Secretariat, but the envelop is also of the kind that is being commonly used by the Assembly Secretariat.

He read out the content of the letter in the House.

The letter begins with the sentence � "Have you not been elected from Langthabal Assembly constituency to work for the welfare of the entire people of the state?" .

The full text of the letter reads, "Every word you speak is against the tribal, and apart from that anti-tribal and anti-Christian attitude in you, the way you attack the tribal ministers including the TD, PHED and Power Ministers as if a prima facie case is filed against them is not appreciated by the tribal people at all.

Don't you know where the integrity of the state lies? It is a curse that anti-tribal like you were born in the state.

"On earlier occasions when the Assembly session was severely disturbed, the then Speaker TN Haokip and P Tonsing had said that O Joy is not that aggressor, but he has only been spoilt by Nimaichand Luwang.

But now, the statement has been reversed.

You have become such an aggressive attacker.

People said that if O Joy is a pipe then he might have been a latrine pipe that stinks.

Though you have spoken arbitrarily, people are very much aware about your style of working during your tenure as IFCD and LDA Minister.

May be because of your style of spewing venom, your party� MPP is dying day by day.

Being an opposition leader, do speak seriously about solving the law and order problem of the state.

You have, on the contrary, sought only your own benefits.Would not a curse befall you for your deeds of attacking those who do not 'bribe' you? Have not you heard that every section of the people including the vendors are accusing that the opposition members are not doing their job?" .

The letter is said to have signed by Helun Haokip, Smith K Guite, and John Panmei.

In the afternoon session, the House got a report from the Chief Security Officer of the Assembly Hall that the letter was handed over by a retired government employee, Amkhozam to the ASI of the Special Branch of CID who was on duty at the gate.

O Joy draws the attention of the House to initiate Breach of Privilege and Contempt of House proceedings against Amkhozam saying that the contents of the letter breached his privilege, and infringed the dignity of the house.

He also said it was a threat to gag the freedom of expression.

Endorsing it, NCP MLA Radhabinod Koijam said action can be taken against the concerned persons.

Later, the Speaker has referred the case to the Privilege Committee of the House.

Meanwhile, talking to this newspaper, ASI L Tomba said the one who had delivered the letter, Amkhozam was his senior colleague in the department he is serving.

He said Amkhozam is also the PSO of Power Minister T Phungzathang.

Tomba said he accepted the letter after he was assured that the letter was sent by T Phungzathang.

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