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Manipur : Governor-CM lock horns

	January 02, 2006

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who has been facing rough weather on various issues such as demonstrations by Naga students and woman organisations, has now locked horns with State Governor S.S. Sidhu who has criticised the Government for its failure to utilise the funds properly.



On December 28, the Governor just stopped short of censuring the Secular Progressive Front coalition when he asked Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh to utilise funds properly, achieve physical targets and maintain transparency while awarding contracts.



Giving the government a piece of his mind on the current state of affairs, Sidhu made it very clear that he was not at all happy with the pace of development projects and lack of facilities with regard to roads, transport and communication, education and sanitation.



“A number of these problems do exist in other states also, but their spread and the magnitude in Manipur have persisted for too long. As a result, Manipur has lagged far behind other states and even among the seven northeastern states,” the Governor said during an interaction with the media at Imphal Raj Bhavan.



This is the first time Sidhu has spoken his mind on the state’s development projects after he assumed charge nearly one-and-a-half years back. Sidhu clarified that he was not under any “pressure” from Delhi to speak his mind and also denied giving any indication of things to come in the state, while responding to a question on whether he was hinting at a political change in the near future.



The Governor’s plea for transparency came close on the heels of the fracas between PWD engineers and Congress legislator Z. Mangibou about allocation of contracts to militant outfits. “It is important that there is transparency and efficiency in the delivery system and responsive attitude by the administrative machinery particularly at the cutting edge level of the administration,” he said.



Underscoring the need to introduce an effective monitoring mechanism for development activities, he said there was no point taking up projects that cannot be completed on time. He cited the cases of three huge projects which could not be completed till today though launched as early as in 1980. “The pace of planning and development leaves much to be desired.”



Sidhu expressed “serious concern” at what he termed ethnic and social tension, extortion from people including politicians, abduction of professionals for ransom and senseless killings and violence against civilians. He was also “worried” about “intolerance creeping in society”, trying to force people to toe one’s fixed ideas and lines by threats.





Ibobi ire on Army, CM cries foul over ‘independent’ truce



Meanwhile, the chief minister has expressed displeasure over the “independent” decisions being taken by armed forces deployed in the state.



The Chief Minister cited the allegedly tacit peace agreement between the security forces and eight militant groups as reason to doubt that the security establishment was working at cross-purposes with his government.



“The state government was kept in the dark until the Army formally announced its peace agreement with the militant groups. This is an important issue and we should have been consulted before taking such an important decision,” Ibobi Singh said at a function to commemorate the 153rd birth anniversary of freedom fighter Bir Tikendrajit Singh last night.



He pointed out that a truce with any group could not be deemed legal without framing a set of ground rules, ascertaining the strength of the militant group and setting up designated camps.



“If the armed forces enter into a truce agreement without consulting the state government, then it is tantamount to asking the state to work under the shadow of the Army,” he said.



The Chief Minister said any move to bring militant groups to the negotiation table would be welcomed, provided the government is kept informed. He said the administration would not remain silent if the militant groups continued extortion under the cover of a truce with the Army. “I would rather resign than work under the army diktat.”



Militant facations merge



In another development, three Kuki militant groups - the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), the United Kuki Liberation Front and Kuki National Front (S) - have merged under the banner of Kuki National Council. This was announced by KRA spokesperson Major Max on the organisation’s Raising Day. He said all armed Kuki groups, barring the Kuki National Army (KNA), were welcome to join the newly formed council. He charged the KNA of being an agent of the Centre and working in collusion with the security forces.





Women threaten agitation



More than 10 women’s organisations of Manipur have threatened to call a statewide general strike if the Okram Ibobi Singh government fails to take steps to improve the living conditions in the Bekra region of Tamenglong district.



The Army’s Red Shield Division had launched Operation Tornado at Bekra in October to flush out rebels holed up there. Local residents complained that the army operation had imposed restrictions on their movement.



The women’s organisations are now demanding setting up of a post of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) at Bekra, free movement of farmers and villagers and improvement of basic facilities in the area.



A spokesperson for the women’s organisations today said they had submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister in this regard. “The government promised to take positive steps, but nothing has been done till date.” She added that if the government failed to concede the demands by January 5, a statewide general strike would be called from midnight the next day.