Manipur CM, others face heat in 'office of profit' issue

Imphal, Apr 1: The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Manipur unit has urged Governor S S Sidhu to disqualify Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and six other Congress MLAs and a CPI minister for holding 'offices of profit'.

The party said under article 191(1)(a) they should be disqualified for holding offices of profit. The BJP said the chief minister was the president of Kangla Fort board, Chairman of Manipur Film Development Corporation, Chairman of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences(RIMS), Chairman of Shri Govindajee temple board.

The BJP in the petition to the governor quoted relevant portions of order of the Supreme Court. It further contended that there was no legislation or law enacted not to disqualify the MLAs holding 'offices of profit'.

The MLAs whose disqualifications were sought are N. Loken, K.

Ranjit, Y. Mani, A. Aza, K. Korunthang, N. Biren, Bijoy Koijam and Ph Parijat. All other opposition parties of the state had also demanded disqualification of the MLAs on the same ground.

The government may promulgate an ordinance on the issue but so far it has not reacted on the issue.

UNI