State pays homage to Mahatma Gandhi Centre will take final decision : Ibobi
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 02 2015 : With regard to the Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill 2015, the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (7th Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Manipur Shops and Establishments (2nd Amendment) Bill 2015, which were passed by Manipur Assembly on August 31, 2015, Chief Minister O Ibobi has categorically stated that the Government of India will take a decision after studying whether the Bills impinge upon rights and interests of any community.

Speaking at the 146th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Congress Bhavan here today, Ibobi called upon all the people to work out an amicable solution to the controversies surrounding the three Bills through dialogue.

Led by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Ministers, MLAs, MPs and high-ranking officials paid floral tributes to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Later briefing media persons, Ibobi stated that the State Government has a keen desire for the Centre to appoint a regular Governor for Manipur but there is also a tradition of keeping more than one State under a single Governor.

Chief Minister O Ibobi speaking to media persons

The three Bills passed by the State Assembly on August 31 have been referred to the President of India by the (Late) Governor of Manipur and the President has reserved the Bills for considerations with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Union Law Ministry.

Even as the State Assembly has the capacity to pass Bills, the fate of any Bill would be decided by the Centre, Ibobi stated.

The turmoil seen in Churachandpur in the aftermath of the passage of the three Bills is rather disheartening.

To resolve the issue, invitations were sent thrice to relevant organisations for holding dialogue.

It would be impossible to resolve the issue without holding dialogue.

It was a big step forward that the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) came forward to hold dialogue with the Government, said the Chief Minister.

Through dialogue with KIM, the State Government would look into the grievances of the Churachandpur JAC.

In a democratic country, any individual or group of people has the right to make several demands but at the same time, it is crucial to find out whether the demands are reasonable or not.

The demand to create a separate State for the tribal people of Manipur is not within the capacity of the State Government.

As such, the State Government is not in a position to fulfil any such demand.

Such demands can be fulfilled only by the Union Government and the State Government has no authority to intervene.

If any demand raised by any group of people is reasonable enough, the State Government would throw its weight behind the demand.

However, if any demand challenges the integrity of Manipur, the State Government would never extend any kind of support, the Chief Minister stated categorically.

He then assured that the new Sanjenthong bridge which is currently under construction would be completed ahead of this year's Manipur Sangai Festival.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam hailed Mahatma Gandhi as an eminent leader of the world.

' and harmony would reign everywhere if every one follows Gandhi's principle of non-violence and equality.

The restive situation witnessed in Manipur will vanish sooner than later if all the people/communities understand Gandhiji's philosophy of life and act accordingly.