The Election Commission on Thursday asked the Central government to explain why it did not seek its permission before felicitating sportspersons in poll-bound Manipur.
“It has come to our notice through news reports that the Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region [DoNER] and the Ministry of Home Affairs on February 28 felicitated nine sportspersons who participated in Rio Olympics from the North-Eastern States. Five of them hail from poll-bound Manipur,” said an EC official.
March 4 deadline
The poll panel has asked the government to respond by March 4.
Among the sportspersons of the North-East States honoured by the Centre were Dipa Karmakar (gymnastics), P. Sushila Chanu (hockey), H. Lal Ruatfeli (hockey), L. Bombayla Devi (archery), K. Chinglensan Singh (hockey), K. Kothajit Singh (hockey) and Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (weight lifting).
Two other sportspersons felicitated, but who did not attend the function, were Shiva Thapa (boxing) and T. Anuradha Devi (hockey). Each of them was presented a cash award of ₹2 lakh besides a memento.
