Source: Manipur Mail
Imphal, June 21:
The Manipur Legislative Assembly today passed the Manipur Appropriation (No 3) Bill, 2004 without any opposition enabling the government to utilize the Rs 4011,81,04000 meant for 204-05.The Chief Minister Okram Ibobi who hold the Finance portfolio moved the motion and it was passed unanimously.
The Speaker, TN Haokip announced that session is adjourned sine die.
The last day of the session today marked attendance of the Opposition members for almost half an hour.
The Opposition members discussed the three motions which were raised and rejected by the Speaker.
All three no confidence motions against the Speaker were rejected by the Speaker.
Another motion to discuss the rejected motions was submitted and discussed.
Participating in the debate O Joy said Parliamentary democracy has been throttled.
A case against the Speaker is placed before the Speaker, judged by the Speaker and rejected by the Speaker.
This is dictatorial he said.
Dr Nimaichand Luwang said the decision of the Speaker can not be questioned.
It can only be questioned through a substantive motion.
He said he is not questioning the decisions of the Speaker but is concerned about the bad precedent it will give.
The Speaker then said the motion is inadmissible.
The Opposition members stood up and went out shouting slogans.
Nimaichand said he opposed the dictatorial functioning of the Speaker and announced that the boycott of the Speaker will continue.
The Chief Minister said the altitude of the previous NDA government was bad.
It was favorable only to states ruled by its partners like Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh he said.
Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya were discriminated upon.
Such attitude of the centre should not be repeated he said.
During the meeting with the Prime Minister he urged him not to repeat what the previous government did but to visit Nagaland even before coming to Manipur.
He said the attitude of the NDA government was just lip service.
The time calls for resource mobilization and curtailing non plan expenditures he said.
The Chief Minister then said it is against the rule to address the media at the lobby of the House without the permission of the Speaker or the Secretary.
The Speaker then gave some examples where the media interviewed the members without the permission of the chair.
He said it is punishable.




