BJP demands extension of House session
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, December 18 2013: Manipur unit of BJP today demanded that the two-day session of the 10th state assembly be extended to at least one more day to discuss the two key issues of Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing and Inner Line Permit.

"It's really unfortunate for the people that the 60-member assembly including the Chief Minister are not discussing burning issues of the state in the session that began on Wednesday," BJP president Th Chaoba said while addressing the media at the Nityapat Chuthek party office here today.

He said the party feels sad that the House is skipping major issues and it seems that the few-hour session has been arranged for discussion on raising the amount of salaries of MLAs and their Local Area Development Funds.

Recalling that the Prime Minister and the Home Minister had recently assured that an inch of Manipur's territory would not be conceded in the the Indo-Myanmar border and also announced that border fencing would be suspended until a joint survey between the two neighbouring countries were carried out, but, Chaoba pointed out, media here on Wednesday published a story saying the fencing was still continuing despite the assurance.

"We cannot take it easily," Chaoba said, adding "It's difficult to rule out that the Central Government is doing this under a covert policy to get benefits from the Look East Policy" .

The BJP leader also accused the Chief Minister of misleading the House since 2012 when he stated in the third session of the assembly that Boundary Pillar numbers 101, 66, 78 and 79 which fall under Churachandpur, Ukhrul and Chandel districts along the Indo-Myanmar border could not be located and that the two countries were conducting a joint survey on it.

"Ibobi must make clarification on the matter in the House.

The House members should not longer allow him to mislead them by remaining silent on it, the former MP further demanded.

Chaoba called the current assembly session a meeting to increase the salary of MLA to Rs 1.50 lakh and Rs 2 crore for the MLA Local Area Development Fund.

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