Faleiro arrives, slips on ADC furore
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 07 2010: Permanent invitee member to the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and in-charge of Manipur Luizinho Falerio, who arrived here this after-noon on a two-day visit, was surprisingly caught unaware of the objection being raised by some political parties and social organisations over the decision of the State Government to go ahead with the proposed election to the Autonomous District Councils in the hill districts without first amending the existing District Council Act.

Upon his arrival at Imphal, Falerio held a joint meeting with PCC executive committee members, CLP members, MPs and representatives of frontal organisations at the conference hall of Congress Bhavan here.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, MPCC president Gaikhangam, MP Thangso Baite, Ministers and MLAs were among those present in the meeting.

Faleiro fielding questions from the media

Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, Falerio said that the step being taken up by the State Government to conduct the election of Autonomous District Council after many years is in the right direction and should be supported by the people.

He observed that holding the election would help in hastening the pace of development.

However, when some of the mediapersons asked for his comment on the objection raised by some political parties and organisations to the conduct of the election and their demand for amending the existing District Council Act first, Falerio knew nothing about it and MPCC president who was nearby reacted immediately in whisking away the surprised Falerio to the side.

Earlier, Falerio said that he came to Imphal on a regular visit and efforts would be made to ensure that the year-long celebration of 125th anniversary of Indian National Congress is held even at the district, block and unit level.

Maintaining that the flagship programmes under the Centrally sponsored schemes are being implemented successfully, Falerio informed that he had given instruction to all the party functionaries to see that the benefit of these programmes reach the grassroots level.

When asked whether there is any possibility for reshuffling of the Council of Ministers in the ruling SPF Government, Falerio promptly replied that it is upto the Chief Minister.

However, he refrained from giving any comment when asked whether is any possibility for changing the Chief Minister.

He went on to say that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and AICC president Sonia Gandhi have been paying special attention to the North Eastern States and fund have been earmarked in the budget for development of the region.

After the Union budget session, Sonia Gandhi would be visiting Meghalaya and Mizoram and there is plan for coming to Manipur in the third leg of the NE tour, Falerio announced, while adding that invitation for visiting Manipur had already been received from the side of the Chief Minister.

Later during the day, Falerio participated in the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CPL) held in the conference hall of the Chief Minister's Secretariat.

The meeting discussed whether the proposed visit of Sonia Gandhi to Imphal in May would be violation of the election code of conduct of the District Council or not.

The meeting, however, did not take any definite decision on when the visit would be appropriate and when should an official invitation be send.

On the last day of his visit tomorrow, Falerio would inspect the progress of the work on construction of Ima Market at Khwairamband Bazar at around 10.30 am and he would leave for Delhi in the afternoon.