IMPHAL, November 10: Senior journalist Yambem Laba and the newspapers, The Statesman and Huieyen Lanpao, have been ordered to submit written replies within November 20 by a court, State BJP president Thounaojam Chaoba said at a press meet in the party office at Nityaipat Chuthek held in connection with the enrolment of new members this morning.
This much publicised defamation case related to a hard hitting news published in these newspaper that the BJP State president was implicated in the sensational corruption case of former RIMS director, Dr. S Sekharjit, now under CBI investigation.
The news reports had alleged that among the documents found by the sleuths was a note by the ousted director to BJP president asking him to return Rs. 1 crore paid to him by the former for assurance that the CBI would be kept away from investigating the RIMS affairs.
Chaoba vehemently denied the veracity of the report and warned the defendants to apologise publicly for the defamation caused to his reputation as a political veteran built over the last 50 years.
When this was not complied, he threatened to sue the parties for Rs. 50 crore each, and finally did when there still was no compliance.
The court will fix the date of hearing after November 20, he added.
Meanwhile, the BJP leader gave the nod for the induction of new members such as Phijam Pakchao who represented the CPI in the last assembly elections, Potsangbam Gram Panchayat pradhan Meisnam Mangi Singh, Awang Wabagai GP ward member Okram Ibungobi, Potsangbam GP ward member Khundongbam Dhiren Singh and Mayengbam (O) Purnima Devi, also a ward member of the same GP.
This was done as a part of the nationwide drive initiated by the BJP to enrol new members that started yesterday. The State BJP is setting a target of enrolling at least one lakh members in the State with 50 members from every polling station along with five active members.
The State BJP will organise a conference at every assembly constituency. The newly enrolled former CPI candidate Pakchao along with his colleagues can contribute to the Lamshang BJP Mandal, Chaoba said.
“The aim of the BJP is to root out corruption by the Congress government. Funds which are meant for job card holders under the MGNREGA have not been issued for 100 days but misappropriated by the ministers. The BJP will organise a meeting with Pradhans and ward members on this issue,” he stressed.
Speaking at the press meet, Pakchao said local MLAs in the last 15 years haven`t taken up any substantial developmental works in his Kendra which have led to people urging him to fight the elections with the support of a big political party like the BJP.