Border row: Home Minister Shinde orders spot assessment on Dec 7-8
Source: Hueiyen News Service / MIC
Imphal/ New Delhi, December 05 2013:
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has directed all heads of the agencies associated with the construction of the border fence in Manipur to visit the border areas for making an on-the-spot assessment.
The direction was given after an all political party delegation led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today met Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde at 1 PM in North Block, New Delhi to discuss the issues relating to Indo-Myanmar border fencing falling within the State of Manipur.
The meeting was also attended by Senior Officials of the Home Ministry, Surveyer General of India, Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Assam Rifles.
After detailed discussions on the issues involved, it was resolved that a joint delegation of all concerned officials of Government of India alongwith all political parties of Manipur and the officials of the State Government will conduct a spot verification of the fencing work and the disputed, boundary pillars on 7th & 8th December, 2013 .
Union Home Minister also instructed the Border Road Organisation to immediately suspend the fencing work going on in Manipur, till the issues raised in the meeting are settled.
The development has come about after an all party delegation led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at the latter's office yesterday afternoon.
During the meeting Dr Manmohan Singh today assured the delegation that an inch of land in Indian Territory on Manipur border would not be conceded to the neighbouring country.
The Prime Minister also assured that he would instruct the concerned authority to stop the on-going construction of the border fencing and to correct the error.
The delegation comprising 22 members of All Political Parties of Manipur also submitted a memorandum on the matter of border fencing being constructed along Indo-Myanmar International Boundary in Manipur sector.
Other members in the delegation included Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, N.Biren MLA (INC), R.K.Anand MLA (INC), Dr I.Ibohalbi Singh MLA and Opposition leader (TMC), R.K.Shivchandra (TMC), Karam Shyam MLA (LJP), Y.Mani Singh (MSCP), Kh.Devabrata Singh (MSCP), Dr.M Nara Singh (CPI), N Mangi Singh (CPI), Ksh.
Shanta (CPI-M), Sarat Salam (CPI-M) , Manihar Goswami (JD-S), Ms..NKavita Devi (BSP), W.Morung Makunga(NPF), Athuan Abonmei (NPF), Sapam Samungou Singh (Shiv Sena), L.Seth (PDA), M.Tombi Singh (JD-U), N, Hemanta Singh (JD-U), Kh.
Gyaneshwar Singh (AIFB) and N.Ratan (Kapu) Meetei (NCP) .