Imphal, April 25: Coming out strongly against the statement of Chief Minister O Ibobi wherein he stated on Khongjom Day that underground outfits had levied certain percentages from the funds earmarked for the construction of the Mandop at Khongjom, the proscribed UNLF today asked the Chief Minister to name the outfits which had taken the money or else he should be held responsible for any untoward incidents.

In a strongly worded statement, the outfit said that the sweeping generalisation of the Chief Minister has tarnished the image of the UNLF and added that he should name the outfits responsible.

'Enlightening' the Chief Minister on Khongjom Day, UNLF said that it started paying tributes at Khongjom to honour the martyrs who laid down their lives in 1891 against the invading British force, through the People's Welfare Organisation in 1969 .

Earlier, the Paonam clan used to offer Tarpan annually at Kheba Ching to honour Paona Brajabashi.

The outfit further claimed that even years after India annexed Manipur, openly paying tributes to the heroes of Khongjom was barred.

Even the script of the play Bir Tikendrajit prepared by Rupmahal Theatre was confiscated during the rule of the then Chief Commissioner.

As such Ibobi who is a stooge of India has no right moral right to say anything on such an auspicious occasion as Khongjom Day, it asserted.

In a mocking tone, the outfit said that Ibobi is infamous for deducting 10 pc from everything and blaming the underground outfits of deducting percentage cuts is nothing but to cover up his misdeeds.

The outfit also recalled how it exposed the Rs 5 crore scam involving the CM himself and some of his cronies just before the election to the 8th Assembly.

From 10 pc, Ibobi is today Mr 15 pc, said the outfit and added that maybe the percentage cut has been increased to meet the inflation.

The frequent blame heaped on the underground outfits by the CM of derailing developmental projects by demanding cuts, is nothing but just a ploy to cover up his open looting from the public, said the statement.

In fact Ibobi and his kins have accumulated more than Rs 10,000 crore worth of assets inside Manipur as well as in other States.

Compared to this, the percentage cuts levied by the underground outfits is peanuts.

On the emergence of numerous armed groups with dubious credentials, the outfit said that these groups have come up taking advantage of the conflict situation between India and armed groups.

UNLF knows the suffering caused to the people by these groups, UNLF said and added that it would together with other like minded groups to take on such elements.

The outfit also clarified that it had nothing to do with the bomb blast at Babupara and reminded the people that UNLF is against planting bomb in public places.

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