Imphal, February 06: Even as a joint meeting of various social organisations has outrightly rejected the assertion made by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on the floor of the Assembly yesterday in connection with the benefits that would be accrued from the expansion of Tulihal Airport at Imphal, protestors set aflame the effigy of the Chief Minister in front of the airport today.

The joint meeting convened by the JAC Against the Acquisition of Land for Expansion and Extension of Imphal Airport was attended by representatives of various social organisations including AMUCO, UCM, NIPCO, MAFYF, CCDD, Mapi Council, COHR, HERICOUN, Hijam Irabot Foundation and MEELAL.

Terming the remarks of the Chief Minister as irresponsible, the meeting contended that the assertion of the Chief Minister that Manipur would benefit a lot from setting up of an International airport was not the result of any consultation with experts but his own selfish motive.

The meeting maintained that other than fulfilling his own selfish motive, none of the development projects taken up by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh so far has been to the benefit of the State or its people.

If the Chief Minister was really concerned about the welfare of the people, then he should have discussed the pros and cons of expanding the airport along with the people instead of trying to forcefully acquire their agricultural land, the meeting observed.

Demanding a change in the mindset of the Chief Minister before it is too late, the meeting strongly felt that development of the existing airfield in accordance with the need of the time rather than denying the livelihood of the people through expansion of the airfield would be to the credit of he Chief Minister.

On the other hand, representatives of the JAC and the Ningombam Yaipha Thoudang Lup set aflame the effigy of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in front of the Airport at Ningombam in protest against the move being made to acquire over 521 acres of land from Malom and its surrounding area for the purpose of expansion of the existing airport.

Talking to media-persons, the protestors demanded utilisation of the land being occupied by the Army inside the Airport complex for the purpose of expansion and development of the airport instead of taking over the agricultural land of the people and cutting off their only source of livelihood.

Ganja seized : Acting on specific information, troops of 13 Assam Rilfes launched a search operation in the general area of Humi village and seized 350 Kgs of Ganja from an isolated hut today, said the PRO of Assam Rifles in a statement.

The owner of the Ganja managed to flee from the site, said the PRO and added that the same is being handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau, Regional Unit, Paona Bazar, Imphal.

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