Imphal: The people of Khundrakpam and Saikul Assembly constituencies have decided to "socially" boycott their MLA Thokchom Lokeshore, also former Manipur Speaker, accusing him of misleading the House.
Lokeshore told the House that he had no objection to the construction of a district hospital and veterinary office in the constituency but he had himself created an obstacle in the process of land acquisition, said Peace and Development Coordinating Committee general secretary A. Joy.
Joy told reporters at Manipur Press Club that former Congress chief minister Okram Ibobi laid the foundation stone for the construction of Imphal East district hospital at Khundrakpam in 2011.
Health minister L. Jayantakumar visited the proposed site and gave orders to begin construction. Joy alleged that Thokchom Lokeshore obstructed the process.
However, the construction is yet to begin because of problems in land acquisition. Two of six land owners have not yet handed over the land. Joy said the two were the MLA's mother and his wife. The former Speaker, who took the initiative for the construction, allegedly did not complete the formalities.
However, in the recently concluded Assembly session, he wrongly informed the House that the fencing had been completed at the cost of Rs 2 crore. He also told the House that all the formalities to acquire land had been completed and asked the House to construct the district hospital soon, said Joy.
"Now, the site of the hospital might have to be shifted to another constituency. If so, our MLA should be held responsible for this, he added.
"We hereby boycott the MLA and are getting ready to launch an agitation. We will disclose in detail the fraud committed by the MLA, including misuse of local area development funds and Imphal-Saikul road funds. He has misused 80 per cent of development funds. We have evidence," Joy said.
He added that they were providing time to the MLA to explain his actions.
"The veterinary hospital, Sagolmamg, which is more than 40 years old, is in a bad condition. The new government has given an order to construct its office. However, when the contractors came, the MLA obstructed them," alleged Thoudam Hemjit, a resident of the constituency.
The residents of Sagolmang had suggested another site but the department did not pay heed.
