IMPHAL, June 18: Thangmeiband MLA, Kh Joykishan Singh today placed before the House taking the opportunity of the Zero Hour that the House as a show of respect to 18 Martyrs who had laid down their lives in 2001 during the peoples’ movement for “territorial integrity of the state” should observe a two minute silence today.
He had said, “Today is June 18”.
“The House should pray for the souls of the 18 martyrs to rest in peace”, the MLA said.
Seconding the Thangmeiband MLA’s statement, Keishamthong MLA L Ibomcha Singh said that this is the first term that the state Assembly session is conducted on June 18. Several other MLAs had also made their statements on diverse issues during the Zero Hour.
Replying to the statement’s from the MLAs, state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who is also the leader of the House expressed his desire for the Zero Hour to be conducted only when a matter of urgency and importance arises.
He continued, all other discussion could be introduced during “Short Duration Discussion or other Business discussions”. Saying this doesn’t mean that the House shouldn’t condole the June 18 departed souls, the Chief Minister said.
As for offering of floral tributes, the memorial service had already started since morning 5am, whereas the Assembly session started at 11am, which gives ample time for a visit to the memorial service and on top of that no one would stop anyone from offering floral tributes at the memorial, the Chief Minister continued.
Whether the House condoles or not, what really matters is what the House has decided to do, he said.
The Chief Minister also expressed that if the Zero Hour is not properly used, then it will become a matter of the House’s dignity.
However, after the end of the Zero Hour, the Speaker Th Lokeshwar Singh said the discussion on “June 18” is not included in the day’s Business.
The Speaker than continued with the other business of the day and as other members failed to bring up the issue of June 18 again, the House continued without the observation of the 2-minute silence.