Manipur PCC President Keisham Meghachandra Singh submitted a nine-page letter to the Governor on Tuesday. The Congress posed five constitutional questions to the Manipur Governor on the status of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly. “Is it to be concluded that the present 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, as it stands since 12th February 2025, or as it stands today, is alive? Is it to be concluded that the present 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, as it stands since 12th February 2025, or as it stands today, is dead?”
The delegation stated, “Is it to be concluded that the present 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly, as it stands since 12th February 2025, or as it stands today, is constitutionally deemed to be dissolved? Is it to be concluded that the present 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly suffices necessary conditions for the Governor to dissolve the Legislative Assembly under Article 174(2)(b) of the Constitution of India?”
The letter added, “Is it to be concluded that any actions or Orders of the Governor of Manipur, in future, to summon the next assembly sitting as per Article 174 of the Constitution of India, if, in case, a new Chief Minister of Manipur is to demonstrate his/her floor test in the Legislative Assembly, would tantamount to a violation of the Article 174(1), and, hence, the Governor would be constitutionally barred from summoning the sitting for the next assembly session of the remaining term of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly?
The Congress delegation comprised BupendaMeitei, AICC Member & AICC Executive Panel Member, Department of Law, Wahidur Rahman General Secretary (Organisation & Legal Affairs) Manipur PCC, S. Shyamcharan Chairman Law Department Manipur PCC and L. Brojen Singh Convenor Law Department Manipur PCC.
The Governor of Manipur ordered that the previous Orders Dated
24 January 2025 to summon Manipur Legislative Assembly’s Session, which is yet to commence, is hereby declared ‘null and void’ with immediate effect.
More than 260 people have been killed and around 70,000 people of different communities rendered homeless in the ethnic violence between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities since May 3.
Manipur has been under President’s Rule since February 13, four days after the resignation of N. Biren Singh from the Chief Minister’s post.
There is now speculation if President’s Rule will be extended beyond August 13.
Militants arrested
The security forces in Manipur arrested eight militants of different outfits and recovered many arms and ammunition during the past 24 hours.
A police officer said that eight arrested extremists belong to United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) and Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), and they were arrested from Tengnoupal and Imphal East districts.
A car, Indian and Nepalese currencies, mobile phones, SIM cards, Aadhaar cards, and PAN cards were recovered from the possession of the arrested militants.
Of the eight arrested militants, three KCP militants were arrested from India-Myanmar border areas under the hilly Tengnoupal district.
The security forces also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from mountainous Kangpokpi district. The recovered arms include an INSAS rifle with magazine, a .303 rifle, a lathode, a .32 pistol with magazine, four bolt-action rifles, an M16 rifle, an MA1 assault rifle, a sniper rifle, a .32 bore pistol, and seven single-barrel rifles.
Four hand grenades were also recovered in the operation, which was carried out in Tingkai Khullen, Maohing and Changoubung villages of the district, the police official said.
Security forces continue to conduct search operations and area domination in the fringe and vulnerable areas across districts in Imphal valley and hilly regions.
