PREZ RULE IN MANIPUR IS A POSSIBILITY

The Centre did some tough talking in pollbound Manipur on Friday, warning the Ibobi Singh-led Congress government that it cannot wash its hands of the “humanitarian crisis” caused by the 53-day economic blockade by the United Naga Council.

It also rushed Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju to Imphal, Manipur capital, to review the situation in the state.

In New Delhi, home ministry sources said that if there was no alternative, the imposition of President’s Rule could not be ruled out.

Since November 1, the UNC blocked off two National Highways (No. 2 and No. 37) that connect the Imphal Valley with other states.

Even as President Pranab Mukherjee expressed displeasure, the Centre on Friday promulgated for the fifth time an ordinance to amend the nearly 50-year old Enemy Property Act, which guards against succession claims or transfer of properties left by the people who migrated to Pakistan and China after wars.

Sources said that Mukherjee was unhappy over the fact that the government had to keep repromulgating the ordinance as Parliament could not function and the Bill could not be passed.

Mukherjee had in January last advised the government that ordinances should be brought only under extraordinary circumstances.

“To meet certain exigencies and under compelling circumstances, the framers of the Constitution deemed it necessary to confer limited legislative power upon the Executive by way of promulgation of ordinances when the Legislature is not in session and circumstances justified immediate legislation. “The framers also deemed it necessary to impose certain restrictions on this extraordinary legislative power by constitutionally mandating replacement of such ordinances within a timeframe by the legislators,” the President had said.

The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill is pending in the Rajya Sabha and it could not be taken up as the entire Winter Session was washed out due to protests over demonetisation.

Mukherjee had made these remarks with regard to ordinances while addressing students and faculty of central universities.

The ordinance was repromulgated on late Thursday night. Issued for the first time on January 7, the Enemy Property Fifth Ordinance, 2016 had earlier been promulgated four times. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on March 9 but was subsequently referred to Select Committee of Rajya Sabha.