Govt keen to pass Bill within a week : Ibobi
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 29 2016:
Chief Minister O Ibobi has categorically stated that the State Government is keen to convene an Assembly session and pass a Bill for protection of indigenous peoples which would be acceptable to both the hill people and plain people within a week before the election model code of conduct comes into force.
Meanwhile, a white paper on the development activities taken up by MLA W Brajabidhu within Lamsang AC with MLA Local Area Development Fund was released today by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.
However, the white paper was not made accessible to even the media, leave aside the general public.
Speaking at a one day political conference held at Naoremthong Khullem Leikai community hall under the aegis of the Lamsang Block Congress Committee, Ibobi recalled that the State Assembly passed three Bills for protection of indigenous peoples last year on August 31.While one Bill was rejected by the Government of India, the other two Bills are still kept pending.
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Stating that an Assembly session can be convened any time with a 15 days' notice, Ibobi maintained that the new Bill should be acceptable to both the hill people and the plain people.
He then appealed to all the people to feed their opinions, suggestions and objections to the website where the revised/improved draft Bill has been uploaded.
Stating that the Government would consult NGOs and civil society organisations after referring the Bill to the Hill Areas Committee, the Chief Minister further appealed to all stake holders to forward suggestions so as to ensure that the Bill is effective enough to protect indigenous people and it does not infringe upon the rights and interests of any community.
Talking about the territorial integrity of Manipur, Ibobi stated that 18 people lost their lives after the cease fire signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM was extended without territorial limits when NDA was in power at the Centre.
A time bomb has been ticking since the two entities signed the Framework Agreement, he added.
The Chief Minister then asked BJP whether they are waiting for end of the State Assembly election to disclose the details of the Framework Agreement.
If BJP is bold enough, they must divulge the details of the Framework Agreement.
"We welcome all peace accords but no one should dare to challenge the integrity of Manipur", Ibobi asserted.
He then clarified that there is no question of undertaking any delimitation exercise at the moment.
There would be a delimitation exercise in 2026, and neither the State Government nor Congress party nor BJP would have the authority to manipulate the process.
Ibobi also hailed MLA Brajabidhu for producing a white paper about the development works he undertook in Lamsang AC.
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam remarked that the white paper testified Brajabidhu's sincerity.
He appealed to all the people not to buy the arbitrary statements made by BJP.
MPCC president TN Haokip and W Brajabidhu too spoke at the gathering.