As the nearly-four-month long comunal conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki communities has caused untold chaos and unrest in Manipur, the state government is gearing up for a one-day Monsoon session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, August 29.
Governor Anusuiya Uikey had summoned the 4th Session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly to convene at 11 am on August 29. And, in a bid to avert a constitutional crisis, the state Cabinet on August 21 decided to convene the much-anticipated monsoon session on August 29.
This decision followed a recommendation made to the Manipur governor on August 4, suggesting the summoning of the 4th session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 21. However, the anticipated session did not materialise on the specified date.
The meeting of the BAC of Manipur Legislative Assembly on Saturday decided on a one-day sitting of the fourth session of the assembly. The 4th session of the state Assembly would discuss the present crisis sutuation in Manipur among other issues, Manipur Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh on Saturday.
However, the state government proposal for a one-day session drew criticism from the Opposition and it prompted state CLP leader O Ibobi to walk out of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting on Saturday in protest.
Expressing concern while speaking to mediapersons after walking out of the meeting, Ibobi stressed the need for more time to deliberate on the unprecedented incidents that have occurred in the state over the past few months.
Ibobi, who is also a member of the committee, has proposed an extended sitting of the Assembly for at least five days. He said limiting the session to one day serves the purpose of avoiding a constitutional crisis rather than prioritising the interests of the people of Manipur.
The state has been in turmoil since May 3 when the communal conflict between the two communities broke out in several parts of the state. The violence and the series of events that unfolded in several districts across the state, including Imphal West, Imphal East, Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kangpokpi, Chandel and Tengnoupal, have claimed over 100 lives and rendered thousands homeless and displaced, and caused massive destruction of houses and other properties.
