Imphal, August 23 2010: Suspension of the Imphal Municipal Council for six months on the charge of misusing funds, with only nine months left for the present term, is nothing but derailing the political career of the Congress Councillors, decried the Councillors who are the receiving end.

The evolving situation in the aftermath of the suspension was discussed at length in an exclusive meetings of the Congress Councillors today.

The meeting resolved to submit a memorandum to the MPCC president with a demand that the suspension order be revoked within a week.

Later speaking to media persons at Hotel Imphal this afternoon, IMC Ward No 20 Councillor Th Dijen remarked that it was unreasonable to suspend the IMC on the false charge of misusing fund.

This allegation of misusing fund has projected the Councillors in very bad light in the eyes of the general public.

This is nothing but character assassination of the Congress Councillors by the Congress-led Government, the Councillor lamented.

Clarifying to the allegation of fund misuse, Dijen said that due response was given to the Government show cause notice issued in September 2009 .

However, there was no response from the Government to the IMC's proposal to make up the deficits incurred every month due to variance between income and expenditure of the IMC.

On the ground that the IMC was overstaff, the number of employees was also down-sized from its earlier strength of 273.Several proposals made by the IMC to enhance its resource mobilisation were not granted consent by the Government even after one complete year, Dijen said.

In view of the rising prices of goods and extra expenditure made by Councillors being elected representatives, a meeting of the Council was held in 2007 where a decision was adopted to hike the monthly salaries of the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Councillors from Rs 5000-Rs 5400 to Rs 12,000-Rs 15000 .

Even as the same decision was forwarded to the Government, there has been no response till date.

Under the circumstances, the Councillors were compelled to take their salaries from the Council's budget.

Following serious disruption caused to the Council's activities because of the strike undertaken by employees in protest against non-disbursal of salaries and allowances for several months, overdue salaries and allowances under an internal arrangement.

The agreement signed between the IMC, State Government and Central Government to entrust execution of the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission has also been put in cold storage, Dijen said.

Taking strong exception to the sudden without giving any prior notice, the Councillor demanded revocation of the suspension order within a week.

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