Manipur Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister Letpao Haokip has denied being made a member of a Cabinet sub-committe for identification of illegal immigrants in the state.
The minister issued a clarification on Friday regarding the constitution of an enquiry committee to enquire about the ‘influx of illegal immigrants and unnatural growth of new villages in Manipur’ by the Secretary of Manipur Legislative Assembly vide Bulletin Part-II, No 33 dated August 7, mentioning his name as one of the members of the Committee.
Letpao Haokip, in his statement, clarified that he has neither any knowledge about his appointment nor given his consent.
It also reiterated that he along with nine other MLAs from the Kuki-Zo community did not attend the ongoing Manipur Legislative Assembly session. The question of being a part of the said committee therefore does not arise, it said.
It may be recalled that the state home department on February 16, 2023 issued a notification for constituting a Cabinet Sub-Committee with Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister, Letpao Haokip, Minister as the chairperson and Water Resources Minister awangbow Newmai and Education Minister Th Basanta Kumar Singh as members.
It said that the committee will guide the functioning of the Manipur State Population Commission and other authorities on identification of Myanmarese immigrants/refugees in the state.
The notice was issued by Joint Secretary (Home), Government of Manipur, Peter Salam by orders and in the name of the Governor and in pursuance of the decision taken by State Cabinet in its sitting on January 18, 2023.
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