Imphal, Feb. 14: Launching a counterattack on the Opposition, Manipur Speaker T.N. Haokip today accused the Democratic Peoples Alliance of making ?irresponsible statements? to implicate him in the abduction and murder of taxation minister Francis Ngajokpa?s eight-year-old daughter Lungnila Elizabeth.
Breaking his silence since prime suspect James Kuki linked him last month to the murder, the Speaker said the allegations were politically motivated to damage his image.
The suspect had allegedly revealed before the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) that the Speaker, PWD minister Gaikhangam and tribal development minister Ngamthang Haokip were involved in the murder case. The militant organisation has told the trio to come clean of the charges within a month.
?I was silent because there was an Assembly session and the Opposition served two notices for my removal. Now that the session is over, it is time to clarify the baseless charges,? the Speaker told newspersons.
The Speaker said the Opposition was miffed when he turned down its request to topple the Secular Progressive Front government under chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh. ?I refused because Manipur needs a stable government,? he said.
?In spite of my sincerest intentions from Day One, some of my honourable members have been protesting against my rulings on some pretext or the other,?he said. On the NSCN (I-M) threat, the Speaker said the government has increased the security ring around him, but he personally did not ask for it.