Opposition says no to migrant voters
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 09 2012:
Seven Opposition parties comprising of CPI, TMC, JD (U), MPP, BJP, JD (S) and CPI (M) have categorically stated that they would never support but rather oppose enlistment of migrant workers in the State's electoral roll.
This was stated during a press meet held today at JD (U)'s Babupra office after their sojourn to New Delhi during which delegates of the Opposition parties called on Central leaders and highlighted the issues that have sullied the Manipur Legislative Assembly as well as the corruption charges against the Congress Government led by O Ibobi.
Briefing media persons, CPI secretary Dr M Nara claimed that enforcement of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in Manipur was one of the main agenda of their meetings with Central leaders.
On being asked about politicians enrolling migrant workers in the voter list for keeping them as their vote banks, Dr Nara categorically stated that the seven parties would never indulge in such practices but oppose it vehemently.
The delegates of the seven parties met AB Bardhan and Gurudas Das Gupta of CPI, Mukul Roy of TMC, Nilopaul Basu of CPI (M), Sharad Yadav of JD (U) and Sushma Swaraj of BJP.
The delegation explained to the Central leaders the issue of allotting contract work for clearing phumdis from Loktak lake to K-Pro Pvt Ltd.
It is likely that these issues would be tabled in the winter session of Parliament, claimed Dr Nara.
As Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar was on a foreign tour, a memorandum which the Opposition parties drafted regarding the issues which have reportedly sullied the image of Manipur Legislative Assembly was handed over to Sharad Yadav of JD (U).
He would hand over the memorandum to the Speaker when she returns to the country.
AB Bardhan assured that he would write a letter to the Prime Minister highlighting all the issues tabled by the delegation.
The delegation from Manipur further urged the central leaders to ensure that recommendations of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission on AFSPA are implemented.
They also made it clear that the seven political parties would welcome a political solution to the political dialogue Government of India and NSCN-IM but oppose any move that may harm the territorial integrity of Manipur.
JD (U) Manipur unit president M Tombi remarked that Manipur has become a killing field while the State Legislative Assembly has been turned into a den of corruption.