IMPHAL, July 17: Kangpokpi MLA Nemcha Kipgen today called a press conference at her MLA quarter and denied the allegations of picking up four members of the Sadar Hills ADC as baseless.
Speaking to media persons this evening, the first time MLA said the allegations could have been leveled to tarnish her image and further added that the allegations are baseless and without any proof.
It may be mentioned here that Z Touthang, spokesperson of Kangpokpi ADC had conveyed a press conference yesterday at New Checkon and leveled the allegations against the MLA, which was carried out by several local dailies in their July 17 editions.
He had alleged that the MLA while utilizing her legislative powers had picked up four members of the ADC on July 13 and 14.
On the other hand dismissing the allegations as baseless and without any prove, the MLA had informed media persons that on July 13 she was attending the Assembly session while on July 14, she had accompanied the PHE, Sericulture and Vety & Animal Husbandry Minister Govindas Konthoujam and IFCD Minister Ngamthang Haokip during an inspection tour of the Kangpokpi Vety hospital and breeding farm, and as such she had no time to picked up the four as alleged on the said today.
Decrying the charges leveled against her security escorts regarding picking up the four on her indication, she said they follow her wherever she goes.
On July 13 they were inside the Assembly complex while on July 14, they had accompanied her during her inspection trip.
She further continued that she had always tried to promote peace, harmony and development in her area so as to bring development, however certain sections seems to be against it and has as such leveled allegations.
Meanwhile, the four Sadar Hills ADC members who were allegedly picked up by MLA Nemcha Kipgen came out against the allegation and said that the allegation against the MLA is baseless.
Informing media persons this morning at Kangpokpi, the four members said that they are withdrawing support to the present ADC chairman, Haokholal Hangsing.
Further elaborating they said that the steps were taken after considering the present chairman’s system of administration.
The four members are SK Vaiphei, Khupsong Koren, Bhumi Prasad and Paojalet Touthang.
Further continuing on the issue, they said Paojalet Touthang had withdrawn from supporting Haokholal Hangsing on July 10 while the remaining three had withdrawn on July 13.
On July 14, they had attended a political meeting of the members at Haipi village.
After attending the meeting, the four had stayed at the village for the night.
During the same night, some armed militants arrived at the village and started enquiring about the four members who had decided to defect from the Haokholal camp. The four however did not disclose their identities to the militants, which enraged the militants.
The four also charged that the militants had physically assaulted Paokholet.
The four further informed the media persons, that they want a new chairman.
They also expressed their hope that a new chairman will be selected at the earliest and that the present issue will be cleared at the earliest with serious deliberation from the party high command.
They further clarified that the allegations against the local MLA, Nemcha Kipgen is baseless and unfounded.
Out of the 26 members, the Hoakholal camp has only 12 member support, while the four members have 16 members in their camp.
The four members also said that out of the 12 members in the Haokholal camp, three are presently trying to defect to the other camp.