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Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh speaking at the Kamjong district thanksgiving programme in Imphal on Thursday.[/caption]
IMPHAL, Dec. 29: Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said Manipur is for everyone who resides in the state while reiterating that the creation of districts is not for taking political mileage but for administrative convenience.
Addressing the thanksgiving ceremony of creation of new district of Kamjong organised by the district administration at Tribal Research Institute Chingmeirong here on Thursday, Ibobi said the districts were created not in favour of a community or an organisation nor to hand them over to somebody.
“Kamjong is for all of us. It’s not for one separate community,” he stated. “It’s for equal opportunity and equal distribution so as to get easy accessibility (to the administration).”
Four developmental projects - Tribal Inclusive Infrastructure Projects at Phungyar and Kasom Khullen, Augmentation of Water Supply Scheme at Phungyar and Eklayavas Model Residential School, were dedicated to the people during the day programme.
Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who holds the Home portfolio, presided over the function. Revenue & Law Minister Irengbam Hemochandra Singh, PHE, Labour & Employment Minister T Manga Vaiphei, Commerce & Industries, Sericulture and Veterinary Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Social Welfare and Cooperation Minister AK Mirabai Devi, Parliamentary Secretary (Tribal Affairs and Hills and IT) Victor Keishing, former chief minister and former Rajya Sabha MP Dr Rishang Keishing were guests of honour of the programme.
Deputy Commissioner of the newly created Kamjong district Armstrong Pamei, SP Agui, top officials and people of Kamjong attended the thanksgiving function.
Senapati ADC members seek Manipur Guv’s intervention
The Autonomous District Council (ADC) members of Senapati district irrespective of political parties urged Manipur Governor Dr Najma A Heptulla to immediately intervene into the escalating political and social unrest in the state.
In a memorandum to the Governor through the Deputy Commissioner of Senapati district, chairman of ADC Senapati ML Markson said an emergency meeting of the council on December 19 strongly condemned any form of violence and arson happening in both hills and valley of the state.
Describing that the attack on religious place is ‘unacceptable and immature’, the memo said the attention of Raj Bhavan Imphal in this regard is considered ‘most important and necessary’ to avert any communal tension and conflict in the future. It also brought to the notice of the Governor the previous memorandum of understanding (MoUs) signed between the Naga civil bodies and Government of Manipur in regard to the creation of new districts.
Terming the decision of the government in creating new districts as “arbitrary”, the ADC members said it was made without any consent and consultation with the people despite repeated assurances in the past instances. The memorandum said all official agreements and assurance to consult stakeholders before creation of new districts were not considered.
Also, stating that instead of considering the amicable ways of consulting the stakeholders, the memo said the Government of Manipur arrested and jailed those MoU signatories involved in resolving the said issue.
“Not enough after such suppressive move, the Manipur Government through its military might and dictatorial approach declared the 7 new districts much against the wishes of the people,” it added.
