The Communist Party of India (CPI) Manipur state council has demanded inquiry into the ongoing financial crisis in the state by keeping the government under suspension for some time.
The demand of the party was conveyed by Laishram Sotinkumar, the secretary of CPI state council during a press conference in Imphal on Friday.
Sotinkumar said, “The inquiry should be conducted against the chief minister and other ministers by keeping the government under suspension for some time.”
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Claiming that the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing in the state, the CPI leader alleged that the deserving families are not getting the food grains under the National Food security Act.
“Even if it is available, people are getting it after months while some are not getting the full quantity in some areas,” he claimed. No ration card was issued in some areas, Sotinkumar alleged.
The demand of the CPI came a day after reports of financial crisis in the state surfaced in the media.
Following a notification on Thursday, the Manipur chief minister took additional portfolios of finance, power and public works department besides the existing responsibilities.
Earlier, Manipur deputy chief minister Y Joykumar was looking after the finance department while minister Th Biswajit was looking after the power and public works department.
Reacting to the report of withdrawal of huge amounts by public works department and power department during the period from March to May, minister Biswajit said the reports are baseless as the chief minister’s approval is required for sanctioning any fund of over Rs 2 crore.
He also claimed the funds were released as per the budgetary allocations for the financial year 2018-19.
Meanwhile, the deputy chief minister, who shared a similar sentiment, has left Imphal for New Delhi to meet party (National People’s Party) leader Conard K Sangma and discussed the situation.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh and Assembly speaker Y Khemchand have been camping in New Delhi to meet party leaders.