BJP blames Ibobi Govt for people's woes
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 11 2013: Citing dismal governance by the O ibobi Singh-led Congress Government of Manipur for the people continuing to suffer untold miseries, BJP's national general secretary Tapir Gao expressed that time has come for the State masses to decide on whether or not to extend further cooperation to the Government.

Asserting that the people deserve to know the real stand of the Congress party at the centre and State on the Indo-Naga peace talk, the BJP leader questioned failure of the State Government to apprehend SS Lt Col of the NSCN (IM) Livingstone Anal, who assaulted a Manipuri film actress and opened fire at two other artistes in full public view at Chandel on December 18 .

Referring to the recent slaying of businessman Sankarlal Swamy after abduction from the high security Kangla Fort to corroborate that the law and order situation in Manipur has completely failed, he also noted that involvement of IRB personnel in the case is an indication of improper recruitment procedures and widespread corruption.

Hailing the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court with regard to fake encounter incidents in the State, Tapir Gao hoped that the high power inquiry commission will be able to expose high-handedness of security personnel in Manipur in recent years.

BJP leader Tapir Gao

Further claiming that maximum number of fake encounter cases occurred when Chief Minister O ibobi Singh was in charge of the Home department and was chairman of the Unified Command, he also questioned commitment of the State Government on the implementation of the Review Committee on the controversial AFSPA 1958 .

"Regarding ILP issue, we discussed with our senior State and national leaders and we intend to ask the State Government to frame a new Land Law to safeguard the right of the indigenous people of the State and protect them from further demographic pressure of migrants from other region," said Tapir Gao adding 'this is not to discourage the demand of ILP but simultaneously we need to push for a fair land law from the whole State' .

Highlighting that the BJP had raised the issue of alleged multi crore scam in the Loktak Lake sanitisation project involving the CM in both houses of Parliament, he said consequent to the BJP move the Central Government recently sough a detailed report from the State Government on the matter.

Maintaining that the Government of Manipur setting up an officers' committee to investigate the case is a fallout of the Centre's directive, he however opined that the committee might not be able to come out with a justifiable report as members of the probe panel being Manipur Government employees cannot be expected to act against the Chief Minister.

He also insisted that the CM publicly announce status paper on the Loktak lake Phumdi clearance contract given to K Pro Infra Works Pvt Ltd, institute an enquiry committee headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge with a special auditor from the CAG to ensure free and fair investigation, arrest K Pro promoters and all those involved in the contract agreement process and declare what welfare measures have been initiated by the LDA for ameliorating suffering of the fishing communities of Loktak Lake, who were displaced and their fishing equipment destroyed by the O ibobi regime.

State unit BJP chief Th Chaoba attending the media briefing announced that the party will reach out to people in the hill districts to understand their plight as well as highlight misdemeanours of the Congress Government.

Affirming that BJP would launch various campaigns to expose the State Government, he suggested that a fast track court be set up in Manipur to expeditiously settle cases related to crime against women.

Chaoba also confirmed that a BJP representative will join the team of all political parties which is scheduled to apprise central leaders on January 16 on the issue of December 18 Chandel incident.

Commenting of the Government's proposal for recruiting 2000 state security force personnel, he strongly advocated minute screening and scrutiny of the candidates and their antecedents in order to check involvement of security personnel in criminal activities.

Frequent report about State forces indulging in unwanted activities is a fallout of rampant corruption during recruitment exercises, said the State BJP president who also questioned non-declaration of assets of Ministers/MLAs inspite of the State Government having declared to do the same.