Manipur News

IMPHAL, September 21: Manipur will face a political crisis in a short period on account of corruption at every level of the State government. The CPI will adopt a strong stand against corruption conterminous with the ideology propagated by Irawat, stated Manipur CPI secretary Dr Moirangthem Nara.

Dr Nara was speaking on the occasion of the commemoration of the 66th Manipur Kanba Numit organised by Irawat Celebration Committee Manipur at Irawat Park, Chalou Lamlai today.

A pioneer of CPI, Jana Neta Irawat was someone who was totally against corruption and always thought about bringing unity between the hills and valley people, he said, adding that the legendary communist leader was always trying to bridge the gap between different communities of people in Manipur, always fighting crime against women etc.

Dr Nara said governments and politicians are all for sale these days and corruption which exists at every level if not confronted will create a political crisis in the State.

Hospitals such as the RIMS hospital have become dens of corruption. The raid conducted by CBI on the office occupied by a person holding the highly esteemed post of Director is damaging for Manipur’s image, he added.

Stressing that Jana Neta Irawat had always dreamt about bringing peace to the society and fought against social injustice, Dr Nara said CPI will strive to uproot corruption from Manipur as a tribute to the legend who established the party in the State.

Let’s prepare for saving our State from corruption, he said, adding that CPI may not have a seat in the Assembly but the State needs to rid itself from social injustice and corruption.

“CPI has launched a movement for electoral reforms to change the electoral system in India. The elections conducted here are manipulated and won by those using coercive force and money. Soon, there will be a reform in the electoral system and CPI which is treading the path of Irawat will form the government one day,” the veteran CPI leader said.

Later, L Sotinkumar said today was the day when the people of Manipur agitated against the proposed formation of Purbanchal Pradesh by uniting Lushai Hills, Tripura and Manipur.

Jana Neta Hijam Irawat knew the motive of the Indian government and opposed the decision of the Indian government, he added.

On September 21, 1948, Irawat convened a public meeting of the Kishan and Praja Shabha at Manipur Dramatic Union. People from different directions turned up for the meeting but unfortunately people from the Lamlai area were confronted by a police team who lathicharged against them at the Pundongbam area, he said.

In the confrontation, an Officer-in-Charge named Naran Babu was killed by a bullet wound from his own service gun but Irawat was held responsible for his death and the Indian government announced a reward of Rs. 10,000 on him, Sotinkumar told the gathering.

Irawat went underground the very same day and continued to fight for his motherland, he added.

Sotinkumar further said that now the Congress government has failed to enforce such so called landmark Acts and schemes like the Food Security Act, RTI Act and MGNREGS scheme.

This is due to the corruption practiced by the UPA government. So, it is the time to follow in the path of Irawat to save the future of Manipur.

Before the function, CPI leaders paid floral tributes to the tomb at the Pundongbam where people from Lamlai were lathi charged.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/dr-nara-sounds-battle-cry-against-corruption/

IMPHAL, September 21: Angered after a woman in her mid-50’s who went missing since September 19 evening was found dead this morning from a river, a mob set on fire the house of a man who was last seen with the woman.

According to the police, Serakhatun Bibi alias Imaton, 55, second wife of (L) Md Abdul Jalil of Hiyangthang Pallak under Wangoi Police had gone missing since the September 19. She was last seen accompanied by a 28 year old neighbour.

Imaton used to sell vegetables at Hiyangthang Bazar and on normal days one of her sons used to pick her from the bazar, said shop owners of the bazar area.

However, on the evening of September 19, before any of her sons came to fetch her, a neighbour from Hiyanthang Pallak Awang Leikai identified as Md Abdul Kadir alias Amuthoi, 28, son of Md Ibomcha came at her vending place and asked her to return home along with him.

It is also learnt that bystanders had seen them returning home together from the bazar area.

Ever since that day, Imaton failed to return home and remained untraceable even as the Hiyangthang Pallak Youth Development Club, HPYDC launched a manhunt for her.

This morning around 7, people found her lifeless body tied to a log stuck into the Nambol riverbed at Irom meijrao Maning Leikai, sources said.

The people reported to the police at once, after which the police picked and deposited the body at the RIMS morgue for post mortem.

Meanwhile, angered by the incident, locals including from Hiyangthang Pallak came out and imposed an immediate bandh at Hiyangthang bazar.

Traffic along the Mayai Lambi was also disrupted for a few hours.

The mob also went to the house of Md Abdul Kadir alias Amuthoi, but after finding the house empty tore it down and set it on fire.

Fire tenders from Imphal also came to douse the fire, but the mob blocked their way and allowed the fire to completely destroy the house.

The police have filed a case in this regard.

Meanwhile it is also learnt that Imaton had around Rs 5000 on her person on the day she went missing, however, no money was found when her body was recovered.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/mob-turns-violent-after-missing-woman-recovered-dead/

IMPHAL, September 21: The All India Trinamool Congress has announced Dr Y Radheshyam as the Trinamool candidate for the October 17 Hiyanglam by-poll. The announcement was made from Kolkata in the presence of MPTCC president MLA Th Shyamkumar today.

Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress Committee president Th Shyamkumar had discussed the candidature for the by-poll with the party’s central high command at Kolkata this morning, said party spokesperson P Premananda.

Premananda said ever since the seat was left empty by the demise of party MLA Maibam Kunjo, the party has been on the look-out for a potential candidate to fill the void which fortunately ended this morning. He was speaking at a press conference at the party’s Moirangkhom office today.

Dr Radheshyam said he had fought the last general election from the same constituency with a CPI ticket, but was defeated by only 85 votes by (L) Maibam Kunjo.

He said he had joined CPI for its high ideologies, but realised that there are several conflicts within for which he decided to leave the party and join the more secular party Trinamool.

The BJP has already announced the late MLA Maibam Kunjo’s son Dhanabir as its candidate for the by-poll.

Premananda said Dr Yumnam Radhesyam had applied for party ticket this early morning along with his form for primary membership to the party.

This morning, his details including bio-data was faxed to Th Shyamkumar who is in Kolkata with the party high command, he continued.

During today’s morning meeting with the party high command, MLA Shyamkumar had only recommended Dr Radheshyam’s name for party ticket, Premananda said.

As for the ILPS issue in the State, the MPTCC has decided to continue to be in the all-political parties committee on ILPS following the recent development on the issue including the government’s meeting with the JCILPS and release of arrested students volunteers, he said.

The party had taken the stand during a meeting of its office bearers and executive members on September 16, 2014, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/former-cpi-candidate-radheshyam-to-fight-hiyanglam-by-poll-on-trinamool-ticket/

IMPHAL, September 21: The condition of peasants remains similar to that during the days of the British Raj when they were denied their rights and their futures ruined by different factors, said Jitendra Choudhury, an MP from Tripura.

He was speaking on the occasion of the 66th Loumeegi Numit (Manipur Kanba Numit) at Rupmahal Theater which was organized by Manipur Loumee Marup (All India Kishan Sabha) today.

Choudhury who is also a member of Central Kisan Committee said before independence the conditions of the peasants were in a deplorable state and it remains the same even though they provide enough essential commodities for the people by toiling hard.

Various Prime Ministers have made promises of bringing positive changes to the lives of peasants without any substantive changes till date but the peasants continue to produce numerous agricultural products for the people, he adds.

He further said that farmers could not benefit from the various policies adopted by successive government from the time of Jawaharlal Nehru to the incumbent PM Narendra Modi’s time as a result of the government being inept.

This despite the fact that they made tall claims of providing benefits to the peasants, he adds alleging that successive governments have always neglected the farmers.

With a concern for the welfare of peasants, the government has enacted the Land Reform Act but the act is being implemented only in Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura, he said, adding that other states which failed to implement the act could not enjoy the benefits provided through the provisions of this act.

Choudhury stated that every year many farmers are losing their lands and those farmers who lost their lands become labourers moving from one country to another and from one state to another.

The government which hasn’t adopted any policies to control such movement of people must come up with a policy, he stressed.

Many people who came to attend the function paid floral tribute to the portrait of Hijam Irawat Singh before the event began.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/tripura-mp-bemoans-the-condition-of-peasants/

IMPHAL, September 21: The 10th Festival of Narrative Arts, 2014 was opened today at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Community Hall, Mekola Bazar.

The festival is being organised by the Theatre Centre, Manipur, Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy and Mekola Dramatic Union.

The inaugural function was attended by social activist and educationist S Manaoton Singh, chairperson Theatre Centre Manipur Wareppa Naba, Mekola Dramatic Union president B Thoibi Devi and advisor Sarungbam Ibobi as chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.

Manaoton said reports of killings and deaths have today become the norm.

Today, we get to hear of killings even among family members for petty matters, he said.

The development we see in technology has distanced friends and relatives, he said and added the more we get developed, the more we are incline to lose our culture.

The conduct of such festivals like this one on narrative arts of Manipur will go a long way in encouraging our culture and traditions even in this digital age, he said.

Wareppa Naba said the festival honours the age old indigenous art form of Manipur.

To safeguard the gradually fading traditions and culture of our society, every individual need to help by chipping in their own ways to promote the culture, he said.

Although conducting such a large festival incurs huge amount of fund, the concerned government department had decided to extend a small amount of funding, he said.

The Arts and Culture director had last year in her speech assured more financial assistance from her department, however, this year the assistance has been only half of what was received last year, he lamented.

He further lauded the women folk of Mekola who provided the refreshment during the inaugural function.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/festival-of-narrative-arts-2014-kicks-off/

IMPHAL, September 21: The Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) has appreciated the State government’s decision to scrap the Gazette Notification for introduction of Village Development Committee and the proposed New Land Use Policy in the interests of the Kuki People in particular and the tribals in general today.

Speaking to media persons at a press conference in Kuki Inn, Imphal, KIM general secretary Khaimang Chongloi stated that KIM has been vehemently opposing the Gazette notification for the introduction of Village Development Committee and the proposed New Land Use Policy as both the policies were incompatible with the extant traditional land norms and practices of the Kukis.

Moereover, the policies could have proved detrimental to the age-old traditional village administration system of the Kukis which has been followed since time immemorial, he added.

KIM has held a series of meetings including consultations participated by various numbers of Kuki chiefs, public leaders and civil society organizations leaders in which the resolution of opposing the policies in toto were taken, avers the KIM general secretary.

Chongloi clarified that the Kukis are not against the State government but only against its policies. The policy of the so-called introduction of the VDCs would certainly make the traditional Kuki chieftainships and its village administration system obsolete.

KIM is deeply concerned about the embezzlement of funds meant for development schemes in the hills and the Kuki dominated areas, he said.

Claiming it unfortunate, he further gave an assurance that they will extend maximum co-operation to the government in its various other development schemes in the future.

The Kuki Inpi Manipur on behalf of the Kuki people once again expresses its sincere gratitude to the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi led government for calling off its decision to introduce the VDC and NLUP by respecting the sentiments and interests of the Kukis and its traditional customs and cultures.

At the same time, KIM also thanked all the Ministers, MP, MLAs and ADC members from the Kuki community for extending their unflinching support on the issue, Chongloi said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/state-cabinets-decision-cancelling-vdc-nlup-appreciated-kim/

IMPHAL, September 21: Sagolband MLA RK Imo Singh has announced he would take up more development works for the welfare of the people of his constituency.

He made the announcement today at a function organised by the Sagolband Constituency Progressive Committee (SCPC) at his residence to celebrate his completion of two & half years as a member of the State Legislative Assembly today.

Highlighting some of the works initiated by him by utilizing the local area development fund such as the construction of many roads and the installation of 350 street lamps, he said the Chief Minister has also assured to install more from Wahengbam Leikai area to Tera Bazaar.

The drinking water scarcity faced in most parts of Sagolband over the last 10 years has been reduced by providing water to many areas and the remaining areas where the problem still persists will also be soon be provided with water, he said.

The Khongnang Hogaibi has been declared as a protected site by the State government under the Manipur Ancient Historical & Monuments & Archeologist Site & Remains Act, 1976 and the construction will soon begin, he adds.

During the year 2014-2015 under local area development fund, the renovation of the Hanging bridge at Sagolband “Babuthong” will be taken up to make it a historical one, he said asking people to make proposals for any development work.

He also appealed the people living in the State to refrain from creating conflicts under the guise of the ILP issue because any problem could be solved through dialogue and the government is trying its level best to meet the demands.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/rk-imo-vows-to-take-development-to-a-new-level-in-sagolband/