Manipur Samata MLAs pledge to stand by George Fernandes

IMPHAL, March 16: The state Samata Legislature Party has resolved to stand solidly behind Union Defence Minister George Fernandes and other Central leaders of the party amidst the crisis currently gripping the NDA Government at the Centre. An emergency meeting of the Samata Legislature Party, Manipur, chaired by Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam was held today at the Chief Minister's secretariat to discuss the resignations of Fernandes and other Samata party ministers, including Digvijay, Nitish Kumar and V Sreenivasa Prasad from the Union council of ministers, and of Jaya Jaitley from presidentship of the Samata Party in wake of the sensational revelations by web portal tehelka.com. A press statement issued after the meeting said those present discussed thoroughly the resignations of George Fernandes, Jaya Jaitley and other Central leaders of the party and supported their resignations as the right step to uphold moral uprightness in public life and to uphold the morale of the armed forces. The statement further said the meeting resolved to stand solidly behind George Fernandes, Jaya Jaitley and other ministers of the party and to support them at this critical hour. It was also resolved that the Central government should be pressed to make an impartial inquiry into the allegations made against Fernandes and Jaitley as soon as possible to find out the truth and to clear their names. The meeting was attended by all 12 Samata Party MLAs, as well as by O Thorii, state party president.