Opposition files more disqualification pleas

IMPHAL, January 10: The State Opposition, aiming to keep up the pressure on the Ruling Front, has filed fresh applications with the state Assembly Speaker, S Dhananjoy, for taking up disqualification proceedings against ministers Onjamang Haokip, Hankhanpao, S Chandra and Md Allauddin. According to reliable sources, BJP MLA K Ranjit filed an application against PHED minister Onjamang Haokip, Samata MLA M Oken against Hankhanpao, Nimaichand Luwang against family welfare minister S Chandra, and L Kerani against MoS (minorities) Md Allauddin. All four named members are already facing disqualification proceedings, arising from disqualification applications filed by the same Opposition members in June last year. The Speaker has reserved his judgment in their cases. The newly filed applications sought their disqualifications on the same grounds, maintaining that their memberships in the Assembly was unconstitutional as per Para 2 Clause 1(A) of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution of India. It is worth mentioning that Onjamang Haokip and Md Allauddin were granted temporary protection for a period of 15 days against any disqualification order by the Gauhati High Court by an order issued on December 21 last. S Chandra, and Hankhanpao were granted the same protection under an order dated January 3 last.