Ibobi takes centre stage with insightful comments
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 03 2023: Former Chief Minister and Opposition leader Okram Ibobi has appealed to the State Government not to be partial or discriminatory while implementing development projects.

O Ibobi made this statement in the course of discussing Manipur Appropriation (No 2) Bill 2023 in the State Assembly today.

It is rather unfortunate that there were signs of partiality and discrimination at the time of implementation of welfare programmes and development projects, Ibobi decried.

"During our time, Opposition Members were consulted every week with regard to different development works", the former Chief Minister said.

In a democratic country, Parliament or Assembly is a key institution and it is general practice for Members to highlight their grievances and wishes during the Parliament or House session, Ibobi said.

Ibobi takes centre stage with insightful comments

Saying that it would be too hasty to wrap up the Assembly session today, Ibobi who is also a member of the Business Advisory Committee suggested the House to extend the session for some more days.

"During our time, the budget session was held for at least 20 days.

The budget session is held only once in a year.

In the future, let's hold the budget session for at least 15 days", Ibobi said.

Of the Rs 35,000 crore laid out in the Manipur Appropriation (No 2) Bill 2023, around Rs 5000 crore would be spent on the Raj Bhavan, Speaker and Court etc without any discussion.

If salaries, pensions, advances, public debt and interest payment are taken into account, around Rs 15,000 crore would go away, he said.

Of the remaining Rs 20,000 crore or so, the larger portion would be spent in paying for the State's matching share of Central sponsored schemes, he continued.

Once the Governor gives her assent to the Bill, the Government would start spending it but the Government needs to spend it judiciously, Ibobi said.

"Bandhs and blockades have declined considerably and we acknowledge all the good deeds accomplished by the incumbent Government", he said.

But Chief Minister N Biren's oft-repeated statement that there was a big gap between the hill people and the valley people and they hated each other is rather unfortunate, Ibobi decried.

"There was an incident when some youngsters put up a banner inscribed with the words 'Welcome to South Nagalim' when I went to attend an event at Senapati as the Chief Minister of the State", Ibobi recalled.

"The security forces asked me whether those youngsters should be arrested but I rejected the suggestion.

They were only expressing their aspiration.

It was not within my authority to fulfil their aspiration nor was I willing to entertain their demand", Ibobi continued.

The Union Home Minister asked the State Government in May 2010 to give permission to a leader of one UG group which was under ceasefire agreement with the Government of India to visit his native village in Manipur.

"But I steadfastly turned down the Union Home Minister's direction and in the subsequent incident that took place at Mao, two students lost their lives", he said.

Ibobi admitted that there were some CSOs both in the hills and the valley who were opposed to him.

"A few CSOs even demanded pre-merger political status of Manipur but I rejected their demand", Ibobi said.

"The Chief Minister cannot satisfy every citizen but one should not propagate that there was a big gap between the hill people and the valley people and they hated each other during my time", the former Chief Minister said.

Taking part in discussing the Bill, K Ranjit sought attention of the Chief Minister toward renovation of the office building of Sugnu police station.

He also questioned the delay in distribution of NFSA and PMGKAY rice and the State's failure to ban single use plastics effectively.

The construction work of Kakching Khunou Municipal Council office whose foundation was laid by the Chief Minister himself has achieved little progress.

The Government has not yet provided any aid to those families of Pangaltabi and Chairen whose houses were razed by rainstorm in April 2022, Ranjit said.

MLA K Meghachandra questioned as to why the recruitment results of Assistant Professors have not been declared yet.

MLA Joykisan urged the Government to entrust specific responsibilities to all Members of the House so as to make the War on Drugs more successful.

He further proposed establishment of a committee for each and every Assembly segment.