Govt fears Oppn on key issues: Ibobi
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 12 2018:
Ex-Chief Minister and CLP leader O Ibobi has asserted that the State Cabinet recommended just two days for the Monsoon session of the State Assembly as they fear to engage in any meaningful debate with Opposition party on the floor of the House on the burning issues of border pillar, Manipur University, Citizenship (Amendment) Bill etc.
Ex-Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam went a step further by alleging that the BJP-led coalition Government has sold off the southern portion of Manipur while the northern portion has been mortgaged.
A protest rally was held today at Changangei community hall against shifting border pillar under the aegis of Imphal West I District Congress Committee.
Speaking at the protest rally, O Ibobi said that a meeting of Business Advisory Committee was held today regarding the Assembly session scheduled from July 20."Even as I appealed fervently to hold the Assembly session for at least 4/5 days in view of the many burning issues besieging the State, no one including Chief Minister N Biren gave any reply", Ibobi said.
The first day of the Assembly session would be spent in paying obituary reference to four ex-MLAs who have expired.
On being enquired if a consensus has been reached among all stake holders on the ILP Bill which would be tabled in the State Assembly, the Government only said that they have been working on it.
As there would be no sitting on July 21 and 22, the forthcoming Assembly session is defacto one-day session, Ibobi asserted.
Even if the ILP Bill is tabled on the first day of the session, it would be referred to the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) and there would be no time for discussing the Bill.
The Government is not receptive to the idea of holding the Assembly session for at least 4/5 days because they fear they would not be able to debate with Opposition parties on the many key and burning issues of the State, asserted the CLP leader.
The Chief Minister should go to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister for re-survey of Indo-Myanmar border's (Manipur sector) before the whole State goes up in flames, Ibobi suggested.
Saying that a monk has been deputed as the Vice Chancellor of Manipur University who has been allegedly working for the university's downfall, Ibobi demanded immediate dismissal of the VC.
He then urged the coalition Government to weigh whether the State is important or their seats of power.
Alleging that the incumbent State Government has sold off the State's southern territory while the northern territory has been mortgaged, ex-Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam asked if these are the changes they promised to the people.
The 'forceful Government' which promised great changes is an illegal Government, he asserted.
Congress spokesman Kh Joykisan remarked that the Government has been creating confusion among the masses on the border issue.
The Government has the audacity to sit silently even after the Tengnoupal DC had pointed out that Manipur has a lost sizeable portion of its territory, he decried.
He further questioned as to why the Revenue Minister chided the common masses on the border issue.
AK Mirabai said that the BJP-led State Government has landed the State in total anarchy.
It was the people of Kwatha who pointed out that border pillars had been installed 3 Kms inside the territory of Manipur and the Tengnoupal DC had endorsed the villagers' claim, Ranjit said.
He then decried that the Chief Minister, the Revenue Minister, BJP and the Ministry of External Affairs have been speaking different languages on the same border issue.
He went on to ask if BJP's attempt to give away Manipur's territory which was safeguarded by Congress Government is what they promised to accomplish within 15 months which Congress party could not in 15 years.
Ranjit further asked if the BJP-led Government has been working to abolish Manipur University within 15 months of assuming office.
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