Ngamthang clarifies on Sadar Hills
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 07 2011: Reacting to the claim of former Chief Minister W Nipamacha, then a Minister in the United Front Government and presently vice president of the MPCC (I) Ngamthang Haokip has categorically stated that there was no tussle over the question of where the district headquarters of Sadar Hills would be located.

Nipamacha had stated that though the then United Front Government had wrapped up all the finer points to declare Sadar Hills as a full fledged district in 1997 at the time Imphal was bifurcated into Imphal East and West district, sharp differences arose between Ngamthang Haokip and Thangminlien Kipgen on the location of the district headquarters.

Pointing out the errors in the statement of Nipamacha, Ngamthang said that he was not the Tribal Development Minister in the UF regime and added "I was the Minister of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, while Samuel Jendai was the TD Minister" .

Setting the record straight, Ngamthang said that on January 10, 2000, the UF Cabinet re-affirmed the 1982 Cabinet decision to upgrade Sadar Hills to the status of a full fledged district without altering the boundaries of Kangpokpi, Saikul and Saitu-Gamphazol sub-divisions.

The Cabinet decision was taken after the election code of conduct had come into force, he added.

Since the election code of conduct had come into force, the Revenue Commissioner , Ch Birendra wrote to the Secretary of the Election Commission of India seeking permission to announce the creation of Sadar Hills as a district, said Ngamthang Haokip.

The Election Commission however turned down the request of the State Government.

"The statement of former Chief Minister W Nipamacha that the decision to upgrade Sadar Hills to a full fledged district was aborted at the last minute due to differences of opinion between me and Thangminlien Kipgen is wrong," added Ngamthang.

It is illogical to even assume that a question over the district headquarters would arise before the district status is granted, he reasoned.

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