Border row :: All-party team to inspect on Oct 22
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 10 2013 : A 33-member all-political party team led by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who is also in charge of Home, would now be going to inspect the disputed border areas on October 22 .

A decision to this effect was arrived at during an all-party meeting convened with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in the chair today evening.

The all-party meeting has been convened by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in view of the rising tension over the ongoing border fencing along the yet to be demarcated Indo-Myanmar International boundary which has reportedly led to ceding of a large chunk of land belonging to Manipur to Myanmar.

Representatives of various National and regional political parties in the State who attended the meeting held from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Chief Minister's Secretariat discussed the border issue seriously and resolved that the matter should be settled at the earliest in the interest of the State and its people.

Besides Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who is also the President of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), MLA RK Anand attended the meeting as representatives from the side of Indian National Congress.

Leaders of other political parties who were present during the meeting included President N Sovakiran, Heikrujam Nabashyam and H Manisana of MPP; President Th Chaoba and RK Ranjan of Manipur Pradesh BJP; State Secretary Dr M Nara, N Mangi and Surchand from the side of CPI; President Y Mani and Debabrata from the side of MSCP; State President M Tombi and Vice President P Haokip from the side of JD-U, State Secretary Sarat and Shanta from the side of CPM; State President Kim Gante, MLA Ibohalbi and RK Shivachandra from the side of Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress; Gyaneshore of Forward Bloc; MLA Karam Shyam of Lok Janshakti ; Kavita and Sangita of BSP, Shamungou of Shiva Sena; MLA L Ibomcha and Kapur from the side of NCP and two other leaders of NPF.

Talking to media persons after the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam informed that a 33-member team of all political parties in the State led by him would go to disputed border areas for inspection and survey on October 22.Based on the findings of the inspection team, a draft memorandum would be prepared and submitted to the Prime Minister of India, the Union home minister and the Surveyor General of India (SGI) for necessary actions.

For this, a 12-member drafting committee has been formed today with Congress MLA RK Anand as its convenor.

Gaikhangam stated that since the issue is a sensitive one all the political parties ought to display 'unity and solidarity' .

"Our move is to have a joint approach to the Centre on the issue," he added.

Referring to the Google map where a line has been seen wrongly marked as Indo-Myanmar boundary, Gaikhangam asserted that Google is not the authority in this regard.

Nonetheless, Google authority will be also apprised on the matter, he assured.

Comment