Imphal, January 03: It's suffocating.

The journey from Imphal to Sugnu is really suffocating.

The real trouble starts from Kakching Lamkhai.

The roads are dusty.

Chief Minister O Ibobi and former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing now MP, experienced bumpy ride as they went together forming a convoy with six other Ministers to inaugurate the community hall constructed with the MP's local area development fund.

Would Mr Ibobi and Mr Rishang Keishing, who sat in the same car, be talking about the condition of the road? If they did as others do during the journey to Sugnu something would be done to improve the condition of the road.

If they remained engrossed talking about other pressing needs facing the state then the improvement of the road would take many more years.

That is unfortunate.

The community hall costing about Rs 11.5 lakhs was constructed just near Sugnu bazar with the fund provided by Mr Keishing from his local area development.

During the short period of eight months Mr Keishing had taken up 45 schemes with his local area development fund.

Announcing the schemes taken up by Mr Keishing the chairman of the committee looking into the allocation of MP's fund Mr Morung Makunga said Mr Keishing is realty honest in taking up the schemes.

He does not allow us to steal, he added.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister O Ibobi lauded Mr Keishing for donating the fund for construction of the community hall.

He said spectacular achievement has been made during Mr Keishing's short stint as Rajya Sabha MP.

He said all communities would remember Mr Keishing.

The newly constructed hall will remain as a good asset of all communities.

He also said Mr Keishing is a pucca nationalist.

With him in the Rajya Sabha the unity and integrity of the country as a whole and Manipur in particular will be strengthened.

''What I am today is with the ashwirvad of Mr Keishing''.

He is our asset he declared.

He gives proper advice, he added.

He narrated one incident in which Mr Keishing was involved.

"As insisted by a surrendered extremist I took him to meet Mr Keishing when he was the Chief Minister of Manipur.

The three of them were closeted in small room of the Chief Minister's bungalow.

The youth all of sudden woke up and asked Mr Keishing do you think our demand will not be fulfilled.

Mr Keishing quipped if your demand can be met by plucking the tiny bulb shining in the room it could be given.

But this too is a Govt property.

Therefore I cannot meet your demand", Mr Keishing told the youth.

The youth however died, killed by other elements after two months as he fought college election.

He also said killing is not the solution.

But the Govt is facing an uphill task in tackling all these organizations as the numbers of these organizations are far ahead of those operating in other states.

In Nagaland only two UG organizations NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) operate.

Here in Manipur both these organizations operate beside other scores of organizations, the number cannot be counted.

If these organizations continue to disturb the developmental schemes taken up in Manipur, where lies the hope for development of the state? Naturally we have to move backward, he added.

The realization has to dawn in the minds of all people of the state.

Making a sharp departure from his speech he appealed to the people gathered at the community hall to strengthen the Congress party, which is the home to all faiths.

Only Congress party can ensure peace and tranquility to the state, he added.

Mentioning fund crunch facing the state Govt the Chief Minister said his Govt inherited Rs 500 crore overdraft.

He said Sugnu is really important, as it is the centre point of the three districts namely Thoubal CCPur and Chandel.

He said a bridge will be constructed over Chakpi River and Rs 3 crs has been sanctioned for the same.

Construction will be started very soon, he added.

He also said fund has been earmarked for construction of Sugnu bazar.

Sugnu primary health sub centre will be upgraded to full-fledged hospital for which Rs 70 crs will be earmarked in the state budget.

Mr Ibobi was of the view that constructing Chakpi diversion channel can solve the flood in Thoubal district particularly at Sugnu and other areas.

The Govt used all machinery under its disposal for cutting the channel.

But the men sent to the spot were detained by the UG elements for reason not known to others.

Their actions in detaining the officials reflect their intent to harass the poor people of the state, he observed.

He appealed to the UG elements not to disturb the developmental works taken up by the Govt of Manipur.

He asked whether they existed to serve the people or to loot them.

He sought cooperation from he general public in fighting against the menace unleashed by the gun totting elements.

Speaking at the function Mr Keishing said we are created to love each other and to accomplish a mission.

He appealed to all communities to eschew communal hatred and show love to each other to keep the house in order.

God is there to guide us to accomplish the mission.

"I now know why I lost in the state assembly election.

The armed persons campaigned against me to ensure my defeat.

But God is saying he still needs me.

Therefore I was made the Rajya Sabha member.

Earlier I sometimes felt of talking about Phungyar only.

Now I have to talk about the entire Manipur, the entire constituencies belong to me as I am the lone member representing the entire state in the Rajya Sabha".

Man proposes God disposes, he added.

He lauded local MLA of Sugnu assembly for honestly taking up the construction work, which was constructed with only Rs 11.50 crores.

He assured more assistance for construction of toilets and latrines for the visitors coming to the hall, which is called Ching Tam community hall.

He evoked laughter from all present when he said when the latrines are constructed sticks and papers cannot be used to clean, therefore water has to be made available.

He said the state Govt should receive support from the general public, otherwise the Govt expenditure on development projects will be like pouring water into the pipe, which is hollow at both ends that will not water.

He was of the view that the Govt should hold dialogue with the underground organizations.

After all violence has no place in a democratic country.

Nagas and Bodos are holding peace talk.

Why these organizations operating in Manipur should not hold talk without any condition with the Govt he opined.

He told that his son was kidnapped by some elements and huge amount of money was spent to secure his release.

But he was not informed of the arrest and he came back from the capital to receive his sow, released by the UG elements.

He was also of the view that the media could play a role in breaking the ice to bring the elements to the negotiating table.

They are doing it in Tamil Nadu they can do the same in Manipur also, he added.

Mouh mein Ram Ram bagal mein suri tradition has to be stopped, he said.

Appealing to the men in power to work for the betterment of the state, he said we are born to do something for the society.

Let us leave a foot print.

Let us show our responsibility to the society.

He also said what Ranjit, MOS for Agriculture representing Nungba constituency, did in the construction of the community should be emulated by other representatives.

Because he had shown honesty and and sincerity in carrying out his duties, he added.

Minister for PHED K Govindas also spoke.

Those who attended the function included among others W Brajabidhu, Bijoy Koijam, Wungnaoshang Keishing, Ferancis Ngajokpa, Radhakishore all Ministers and Km Memma, Chairperson Thoubal Distt Zilla Parishad, who sat on the dais.

The others present on the occasion were former Ministers Morung Makunga, L Jayanta, Loken, M Oken and other Govt officials.

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