Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, December 05:
President of the Manipur State Congress Party, MSCP, and Lok Sabha MP Thounaojam Chaoba today inaugurated the newly reconstructed office of the party today at the MSCP's headquarters at Keisampat Nityaipat Chuthek.
It may be mentioned that the old party office, along with those of several other parties, was set ablaze by the mob during the public uprising of June 18 last.
Thousands of party workers, including zila parishad and municipal council members attended the function, which also marks the 4th birth anniversary of the MSCP.
Ex-ministers Henam Lokhon and N Manihar were among those who attended.
Two minutes' silence was observed at the gathering as a mark of respect to the 18 martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the protection of the territorial integrity of Manipur.
Addressing the gathering, Chaoba declared that the MSCP would labour to safeguard Manipur's territorial integrity without differentiating among communities.
He also pinpointed eradication of unemployment among educated youths as the first task to be taken up by the party.
Chaoba said the party would set up an economic research centre with the assistance of well-known economists and technocrats for the purpose of ensuring a stable financial situation for the state.
Expressing his concern over the mass downsizing move of the government as an austerity measure, he urged the government to be careful in implementing the measure, pointing out that employees who would have to be retrenched also have to maintain their families.
Observing that the present political scenario in the state was a grave one, he commented that the political developments that led to the imposition of President's Rule had never happened before, and admitted that it had created a rift between the people and politicians.
Blaming the insincerity of politicians to the crisis, he said that if the MSCP had received an absolute majority in the last elections it would never have happened.
Chaoba said the MSCP would pressurize the relevant authorities strongly for sharing of revenue from the Loktak Hydro Electric Project between the state government and the project agencies.