Manipur News

IMPHAL, November 23: The outlawed United National Liberation (UNLF) has extended greetings to the people of the State on the occasion of its 51st Rising Day which falls on November 24.

In a statement issued by Central Committee of UNLF, the outfit said ‘Chahigi Warol-2015’ of the Central Committee has been released in connection with the rising day.

It reiterated that people of Western South East Asia (WESEA) share common origin, identity and need collective effort to become self-reliant.

It said the healthy relationship shared by the outfit with other revolutionary groups in the State is based on these strong beliefs.

People are aware of the fact that the revolutionary movement in the State which has crossed 60 years is going through a difficult phase. On one hand, the revolutionary movement launched based on ethno exclusive has been degraded while on the other, the revolutionary movement solely launched for national liberation struggle has also been heading without much significant achievement, the statement said.

Admitting that the much needed collective strength to achieve the set revolutionary goals is lacking behind which is due to the revolutionary wars waged and sought only for a particular community, the UNLF Central Committee pointed out that there is an apparent contradiction between the people in terms of beliefs and mindset which needs to be rectified.

UNLF strongly believed that only collective revolutionary movement in the State can address and bring an amicable solution to the witnessing trust deficit, confrontation and misunderstanding amongst the people, it maintained.

Referring to the ideology of ‘Chahigi Warol’-2015’, the outfit said human freedom will be attained only when there is no enmity, suppression and communal mindset in the world.

It asserted that revolutionary movement in the society will continue till there is suppression and oppression of community group by another group.

UNLF alleged that the alarming influx of outsiders into the State is a deliberate attempt by the colonial rule to establish racial assimilation to create animosity amongst the different communities.

It also charged the Central Government with trying to create enmity amongst the people of hills by hinting that Meitei community would prosper if it gets ST status.

The revolutionary movement sustained by UNLF is a democratic revolution for saving every community from falling prey to the hands of the colonial rule, the statement said.

Stating that the first and foremost goal of the outfit’s revolutionary movement is to fetch independence of Manipur kingdom from the clutches of the Indian colonial rule, the Central Committee in the statement pledged that the outfit will continue with its struggle to root out authoritarian rule and establish an egalitarian society.

It also mentioned that UNLF terms its revolutionary movement as National People’s Democratic Revolution as the inevitable movement is being lunched to free people from suppression and establish a people government where there is no dictatorship and authoritarian rule.

Democracy and socialism are two inseparable entities much needed for establishing an egalitarian society, it added.

On the eve of its 51st Rising Day, the Central Committee of UNLF in the statement also greeted the revolutionary outfits of WESEA, party members of CORCOM, victimised Kashmiri people and Indian Maoists fighting against Indian capitalist rule.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/unlf-calls-for-collective-revolutionary-movement-on-eve-of-51st-rising-day/

IMPHAL, November 23: The re-poll at the 5/25 Torban Kshetri Leikai polling station in Thongju Assembly Constituency today witnessed a high voter turn-out with 80 percent turn-out recorded officially.

Voting for the r-poll which was scheduled to start from 7am started around 30 minutes late due to the late arrival of INC agent at the polling station and as such polling ended 30 minutes later than the scheduled time of 4pm.

However, re-poll ended peacefully without any untoward incident.

Torban Kshetri Leikai has 967 voters.

BJP and Congress candidates Thongam Bishwajit and Bijoy Koijam visited the polling station. The counting of by-election will be held on November 24.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/thongju-repoll-records-80-percent-voter-turnout/

IMPHAL, November 23: Expressing strong confidence of sweeping both the Thongju and Thangmeiband seats, the BJP Manipur opined that of the total 41 polling stations in Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency, the party will lead in 27 poll stations while in Thongju, it will lead in 30 of the total 45 polling stations.

During a press meet held at the party office today, M Asnikumar, general secretary administration said once the bye-election results are declared tomorrow, the Congress will come to realise that this time it has been taught a lesson by the people.

He claimed that the big factor for the downfall of Congress is its failure to deliver its promises made to the Hiyanglam people during the bye election in 2014.

The people of Thongju and Thangmeiband had learnt a big lesson from the Hiyanglam bye-election, he said adding that the so called promises made by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister then had all turned out to be mere lip service.

The public are not ignorant as the Congress presumes, he said referring to the tall talks during the election rally to bring all round development in Thongju and Thangmeiband in the remaining one and half years.

Moreover, people are aware of the financial crisis the present Congress government has been facing due to its own incompetency, he claimed.

Further pointing other factors that led to the Congress’ fall, he observed that many schemes could not be properly implemented in the State.

At the same time, the State government is unable to maintain transparency and accountability of those schemes which are implemented in the State, he claimed.

Every programme or project are being taken up without proper policy programme considering its long term value but temporary for personnel gain, alleged Asnikumar.

He said the ‘Sangai Festival’ which is a calendar programme of State is one such example of the government making preparation on the eleventh hour on a war-footing instead of making preparations beforehand.

The inauguration of the new Sanjenthong on the eve of the just concluded bye-election speaks for itself the desperateness of the Congress to woo voters, asserted Asnikumar.

The BJP general secretary further alleged the Congress party of intimidating voters during the election especially minority communities and non-locals. He said that with this victory the BJP will be able to open its account in unfolding a new chapter for new Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/bjp-confident-of-sweeping-both-thongju-and-thangmeiband-seats-asnikumar/

CHURACHANDPUR, November 23: The issue over the proposal and desire of the JAC formed in against the three bills to bury the nine tribal martyrs on November 30 has been hot topic in the district as different groups continue to oppose the JAC’s decision.

The bodies have been kept at the Churachandpur District Hospital morgue for more than 80 days now.

This afternoon opposing the decision, people of Pearonmun Village organised a signature campaign which was signed by 693 villagers and submitted the same in the afternoon to the JAC at their KKL Complex office.

The campaign addressed to the chief convernor of the JAC H Mangchinkhup said that the death will not be buried until the three “anti-tribal bills” are withdrawn or amended in the interest of the tribals.

One of the nine dead, Khamsianmung is from the village.

It further said if the JAC has to go against their will, the JAC should hand over the body of the village’s hero to them so that they could bury the body themselves in their own soil.

It may be recalled that the JAC’s decision had drawn many opposition including from the Manipur Tribal Forum Delhi.

Meanwhile, a group of the anti-burial supporters confronted the JAC’s chief convenor at his residence yesterday opposing the decision to bury the nine at the ADC complex.

Meanwhile, in light of the development, the JPO had approach the ADC Churachandpur through its chairman Langkhanpau Guite to expedite the installation of deep freezer, cold storage facility at the Churachandpur District Hospital Morgue following which the chairman has been asking the concerned company based in Guwahati to expedite the installation of the facilty.

Meanwhile, with the opposition from different sections, it is very likely that the JAC’s decision to bury the nine could be cancelled.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/jac-churachandpurs-decision-to-bury-nine-faces-stiff-opposition/

IMPHAL, November 23: Irom Sharmila who has been fasting since November of 2000 demanding repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 from the State, was produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate/Imphal West, A Noutuneshwari Devi in the Uripok Cheirap Court today.

Sharmila is under judicial custody after police arrested her for launching an indefinite hunger strike.

She was accompanied by authorities of Central Jail and police personnel for the court appearance.

Sharmila was produced before the court in connection with the ongoing trial following registration of a case by City Police under IPC Section 309. In the court, she is being charged with trying to commit suicide by launching the hunger strike.

During her appearance, the court fixed date and time for conducting further trial of the case.

Speaking to newspersons at the court complex, Sharmila pledged to carry on her hunger strike movement till AFSPA is lifted from the State.

She appealed to the people to extend full support to her movement.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/sharmila-produced-before-cjm-court/

IMPHAL, Nov 23: Manipur Health minister Phungzathang Tonsing said that Manipur is rich in cultural heritage with various traditions and culture making the State colourful.

Besides, the people of Manipur are gifted with inborn talents in various fields of sports, arts and culture etc, he observed during the third day inaugural of the Sangai Festival at the Hapta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound.

Referring to Manipur’s exceptional quality, he maintained that the Sangai festival has become one of the biggest and colourful festivals, not only in the State but it has become a national festival attracting many visitors from abroad.

Though we the people of Manipur have different tradition and culture, different languages, this Sangai Festival brings us together as ‘one’, Phungzathang said.

Pointing out that the State got the best performance award for Infant Mortality Rate in the Health Sector last year, the minister further divulged that this year too, Manipur got best performance awards on sex ratio and increased hospital beds in the Small State Category for which the Minister and Chief Minister received the Award two weeks back during a function at the national capital.

“This wouldn’t have happened without the untiring efforts and commitments of our government under the leadership of Chief Minster Okram Ibobi Singh”, held Phungzathang.

Concluding his speech Phungzathang lauded the organising committee of the festival for making the event a memorable one for the guests and participants who come from India and abroad as well.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/sangai-brings-people-together-says-phungzathang/

IMPHAL, November 23: Janata Dal (United) Manipur president Moirangthem Tombi said the success of the Grand Alliance in the recent Bihar election is likely to extend upto the North East by 2017 ending the political careers of some heavyweight politicians of the State.

He said by the middle of 2016 in the run up to the 2017 general election, several heavyweight politicians who are voicing support for the BJP at the moment will tender their own resignations from their political careers.

Like the recent defeat in the Bihar election, the BJP will also face similar defeat in the Thangmeiband and Thongju bye election which the Congress will certainly win, he added.

He said the JD (U) had visited the 5/25 Torban Kshetri Leikai re-poll and found that the Congress has high changes of garnering maximum votes from there.

The Congress, he said will certainly win both the Tongju and Thangmeiband seats.

Congress has the ability to protect the territorial integrity of the State, which the BJP has been neglecting, he added.

He continued, the State is moving towards development under the Congress.

JD (U) Manipur generals ecretary (Organisation) Lien Gangte said the people should exercise their valuable franchise responsibly.

He said the alliance between the JD (U) and the Congress has ensured that Congress candidates in the bye-election were supported by the supporters of the JD (U) and it is strongly believed that the Congress will win both seats.

He further said that the recent bye-election is a crucial election for both parties and the results which will be declared tomorrow will be an indication of the government to come after the 2017 election.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/jd-u-manipur-confident-of-grand-alliance-success-in-bihar-spreading-to-ne/