Imphal, February 04: Even as the Opposition tore into the Governor's address delivered on the opening day of the ongoing session on February 1, as insipid, lacking clarity and vision, the Treasury bench on the other hand hailed the address and claimed that it has addressed all the pressing issues of the people.

The debate on the Governor's address will continue tomorrow.

The Governor's address is a reflection of the policies and programmes as well as the priorities of the Government.

Discussing the points raised in the Governor's address, Opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam of the NCP observed that though the Governor in his address said that some underground outfits had reciprocated positively to the offer of the Government to come to the negotiating table, it did not spell out the ground rules.

This lacked clarity, he asserted.

Again though the Governor said that the surrender policy has been revised, it did not spell out the salient features, said Koijam and added that since the Government has failed to clearly spell out many points on holding talks with the militants, the address did not cast a clear picture on the policies of the Government and hence is half baked.

Asserting that the Governor's address is the policy of the Government, the Opposition leader said that the poorer section of the people have been left to their own fate as the Public Distribution System has failed miserably.

Though the subsidised rate of kerosene oil is Rs 10 per litre, it is being sold in the black market openly at Rs 30 per litre, he said and added that the Government has been turning a blind eye to it.

There is no system in allotting rationing cards.

Going on the offensive, Koijam said that since there is no co-ordination amongst the different Government Departments, there is little progress in the Imphal Sewerage Project.

He also questioned who is monitoring the huge amount of funds earmarked for the hill districts.

Joining in and suggesting some amendments, MLA Dr Ng Bijoy of the MPP said that the Governor's address was half baked.

MLA V Hangkhanlian said that though the Union Home Ministry had released a sum of Rs 8.8 crores to rehabilitate the displaced victims of ethnic clashes, not a single pie has been released till date.

The IFC Department is conspicuously absent in the hill districts, rued the MLA.

Throwing his weight behind his Opposition colleagues, MPP MLA Dr Ibohalbi said that the Governor's address did clearly spell out the details on steps taken up by the Government to invite the underground organisations to the negotiating table.

Though the State Government had earlier decreed that bandhs, general strikes and blockades are illegal, there is nothing to suggest that action has been taken up at the ground level, said the MLA further.

The Government has also failed to work out any strategy to better the relationship between the police and the public, asserted Ibohalbi further.

There is also no effort to check corruption in high places, he added.

MLAs E Kunjeshore and N Mangi who led the Treasury bench in countering the Opposition's charges said that the Governor's address was complete and clear and clearly addressed the issues confronting the people of Manipur.

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