Imphal, Aug 23: The much-anticipated session of the Manipur State Assembly has been summoned by the Manipur governor for August 29, 2023. This development comes after a series of deliberations and recommendations, and it holds significance due to the pressing issues facing the state.
The Manipur Legislative Assembly Secretariat officially communicated this decision in a communique to the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR). The communique, issued by Robert Laitonjam, Deputy Secretary of the secretariat, states, “I am directed to inform you that the 4th Session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly has been summoned by Hon’ble Governor of Manipur to meet on Tuesday, 29th August 2023, at 11 am.”
The timing of this Assembly session holds constitutional importance, as Article 174 of the Constitution stipulates that the gap between two sessions cannot exceed six months. The last session, held from February 21 to March 3, mandated that the next session must be convened by September 2 to avoid a constitutional crisis.
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The governor’s decision to summon the session followed a recommendation made by the state cabinet, led by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, earlier on Monday. Notably, an earlier recommendation from the cabinet on August 4 to convene the session on August 21 was not approved by Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the governor. While Raj Bhavan did not provide a specific reason for this denial, it is widely believed to be due to ongoing security concerns in the region.
Despite the passage of three months, Manipur continues to grapple with a tense law and order situation, marked by sporadic incidents of violence, even with a heavy deployment of central forces.
The state has been witnessing calls from Valley-based organizations and political parties for a special session to address the prevailing unrest, which began on May 3. This period of unrest has tragically resulted in at least 168 fatalities and the displacement of 60,000 people from both the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.
Moreover, it has prompted the 10 Kuki-Zo MLAs, including seven from the ruling BJP, to express concerns about their security in the Meitei-majority Imphal city, where the Assembly is located. These MLAs have decided to abstain from the session, adding to the complexity of the situation.
Furthermore, the 10 Naga MLAs were advised on August 2 by the United Naga Council, the apex body of the Nagas in the state, to refrain from participating in the Assembly session. The Council cited concerns that the session was being convened under pressure from various civil society organizations aiming to safeguard Manipur’s territorial integrity during this volatile period.
The upcoming Assembly session holds significant potential for addressing these critical issues and seeking solutions that can contribute to stability and peace in Manipur. The decisions and debates within the session will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the state and its residents as they grapple with the challenges of violence and territorial disputes.
