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Vendor groups set January 15 deadline for IMC to issue licenses

IMPHAL, December 23: The Nupi Keithel Semgat Sagatpa Lup and the Nupi Keithel Sinpham Amadi Saktam Sagatpa Kanglup jointly called a press conference in connection with the non issuance of

IMPHAL, December 23: The Nupi Keithel Semgat Sagatpa Lup and the Nupi Keithel Sinpham Amadi Saktam Sagatpa Kanglup jointly called a press conference in connection with the non issuance of the vendor licenses today.

The vendors have set January 15, 2015 for the Imphal Municipal Council to issue the licenses or face agitations.

The press conference was called at the Ima Keithel Set No 1 with Paonam (O) Ebenu, Moirangthem Chandrasakhi and Naorem Chandrakala acting as the spokeswomen of the vendors.

Ebenu said the government had handed over the three Ima Keithels to the women vendors four years back.

She said the Imphal Municipal Council has already collected Rs 150 and passport photos from the vendors for their licence which are yet to be issued.

About two months back, the IMC started collecting a monthly tax of Rs 15 from each vendor, which has been increased to Rs 95 from this month, she said questioning as to what kind of a government policy is this where the vendors who have not received their licences are suppose to pay the tax.

Setting December 15 as the deadline for the IMC to act on the issue, she said the government should bear the responsibility of any untoward incident arising out of the issue.

The fatal attraction of people in glass houses to throw stones

By Yambem Laba IMPHAL, December 23: If the BJP State president Th Chaoba is so fond defending the State against corruption, he should have been demanding a `White Paper` on

By Yambem Laba

IMPHAL, December 23: If the BJP State president Th Chaoba is so fond defending the State against corruption, he should have been demanding a `White Paper` on himself too. For one, he currently has an assistant who had been once detained under the National Security Act for murder, kidnapping and ransom. There is also another under his umbrage implicated in the Rs.6 Crore CORCOM demand note case which this writer exposed in another report earlier.

But more than this, if Chaoba`™s memory serves him right then he should remember the charge of Lt.Col (Retd.) R.K.Ranjendra Singh, former Member of the State Human Rights Commission and a BJP Member since 1998 that he had been once arrested by the Manipur Police whilst he was an MLA in 1973 for having taken bribes from individuals promising them jobs as police constables in the name of the then SP (Central) Chongtham Nandakishore Singh, and sent to jail.

It may be recalled, the matter figured in the Manipur Legislative Assembly when one H. Ibotombi Singh printed a pamphlet on the issue and distributed it. Dr.L.Chandramani Singh who was then the Speaker had this individual arrested and brought to the House and reprimanded for contempt of the House.

But what takes the cake was the fact while he was Revenue Minister of the State in the then Congress ministry, he took full advantage of uncertain land records of the State after a devastating fire in 1990 and transferred 30 acres of land earlier allotted to the Regional Research Laboratory, a Government of India enterprise, to a group called the Kombirei Housing Co-operative Society which was filled with his family members and relatives.

He thought that he had finished his kill when the then Director of Settlement and Land Records, S. Kritibash Sharma had the allotment published in the Manipur Gazette on 26th June 1995.

Then on 31st October 1995 the Hueiyen Lanpao Manipuri daily broke the story as to how land meant for the laboratory had been allotted to private individuals. That report of the Hueiyen Lanpao did not mention the names of the beneficiaries, but I am reproducing the same 19 years later as the case is still going on.

Topping the list is Toijam Seravanu Devi, estranged wife of Chaoba Singh. She is followed by his father-in-law Toijam Ibochou Singh. Also in the list were the late Elangbam Nandakumar Singh his son-in-law and husband of his eldest daughter Bimola; M. Rashmani Devi his then sister-in-law, elder sister of Seravanu; H. Memcha Devi, wife of his younger but now estranged brother Irabot Singh (Irabot had publicly clarified that he had no knowledge of his wife`™s name being incorporated); Thounajam ongbi Leima Devi, widow of his late brother Thaonaojam Shantikumar Singh; and also his daughter-in-law, L.Roma Devi.

Dr. Leishagthem Chandramani Singh, former Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur also found an honourable mention in the list as his daughter Julie Leishangthem is also one of the allotees.

The man who had managed the entire nitty gritty of the affair was someone called Ch. Kaminkumar Singh, who Seravanu told me in a recent interview, took Rs. 25,000 from her to procure the Patta for the land. She also confided that Chaoba, upon their marriage in 1990 had gifted her with a plot of land lying to the north of Hera Talkies.

But when unable to tolerate the mistreatment she was enduring at his hands, she divorced him in 2000, she said. She further alleged that after the divorce he had sent his goons after her and forced her to hand over the lands records.

Politicians hinge their confidence on the belief that the public has a short memory and all their past crimes will soon be forgotten. This refresher to there is to remind the public of Chaoba`™s past, as an acknowledgment of this assumption.

Here is a little more recap. Chaoba Singh began his long and chequered march in politics in 1972 when he was elected MLA on an MPP ticket. He was again re-elected on an MPP ticket in 1974 but soon defected and joined the Congress Party in 1976. A year later he left the sinking Congress ship and joined the Janata Party in 1977. In 1980 he was elected on a Janata Party ticket but when Morarji Desai`™s Janata Party Government at the Centre fell, he almost immediately left the Janata Party and re-joined the Congress Party and won on a Congress ticket in 1984 and 1990 but soon met his waterloo at the hands of debutant N Loken in the Nambol Assembly Constituency.

Thereafter, he changed strategy and with the blessings of Rishang Keishing, the patriarch of the Congress Party in Manipur, stood for Parliament and won in 1996. But the Congress`™s fortunes in the State had changed and the Manipur State Congress Party soon formed a Government in the State. Chaoba once again deserted the Congress party and joined the MSCP and won the elections to the Lok Sabha on an MSCP ticket.

Since the MSCP was a part of the grand formation called the National Democratic Alliance spearheaded by the BJP he was given a berth as a Minister of State in the Union Ministry till Atal Behari Vajpayee dropped him unceremoniously.

Thereafter he joined the BJP and stood as their candidate in the 13th Lok Sabha elections and lost. He then left the BJP and sought refuge with the MPP and was their candidate during the last to last elections to the Lok Sabha which he lost. Then he found himself in a brand new avatar as the President of the Manipur State Unit of the BJP.

It is in this new Avatar that Chaoba Singh began posing himself as a champion of clean politics.

Chaoba predicts the ultimate obliteration of Congress, lashes out at MDS

IMPHAL, December 23: The Congress has suffered political defeat at the hands of the BJP in national elections and now the State Congress will be demolished from the State in

IMPHAL, December 23: The Congress has suffered political defeat at the hands of the BJP in national elections and now the State Congress will be demolished from the State in no time, stated State BJP chief Thounaojam Chaoba.

He was speaking at the inaugural of a mass enrolment drive of the BJP Heingang Mandal at the Achanbingei Lai Haraopham Comunity Hall organised by the pradhan of Kontha Khabam Pradhan Gram Panchayat and supported by the Pradhan of Heingang Gram Panchayat and Upa-Adaksha of Imphal East District today.

The condition of the Congress in India is like a withered tree whose roots have been cut off by the sharp blade of Narendra Modi. In the name of Secularism, the Congress has ruled the country for more than 60 years but Modi`s development oriented politics has captured the hearts and minds of people, he said.

During the last six months, NDA changed the country in a lot of ways in comparison with the previous Manmohan Singh led government. Even Gandhi had asked to do away with the Congress which was used as a means for attaining independence during India`™s freedom struggle. But Nehru capitalised on the Congress party by using secularism as a plank with political motivation to create a vote bank in elections, the State BJP chief opined.

Modi has uprooted the Congress party from the Indian soil. Now, the country is directed towards development for the poor people. The NDA government is stressing on the welfare of women and poor people and intends to strike a balance between poor and rich people. The previous government brought financial woes for the economy.

The mission of opening zero balance accounts will be completed in March 31 next year as per the instructions given to all the banks of India by the Prime Minister. The scheme was taken up with the goal of giving access to a regular bank transaction to poor people, he said.

Alleging that the clarification from MDS was meant to cover its corruption during the construction of the sports complex, he said he was merely asking whether the iron bars were transported in Activa scooters or Auto rickshaws from Dimapur for constructing sport complexes in Kodompokpi and Kakching.

He said that MDS was registered under Manipur Register Society Act and established during a time when he was holding the portfolio of the Industry minister. MDS was primarily established to focus in the fields of Agriculture and Handloom but it now issues tenders of construction works and is a fund deposition pool for the government, he added.

The MDS concentrated only on development of Agriculture but now it is being used for gobbling up agricultural lands for construction, he quipped.

Further mentioning that the enrolment drive of BJP was being carried out to show the real strength and love for the BJP in India, he added that it was being carried out to show that the BJP was the political party having the largest membership in the world. After the launching the enrolment drive all over India, he said the target in the state now has increased to two lakhs because the forms issued from the BJP office for the enrolment has breached two lakhs already. In the hill districts alone, one lakh forms were issued whereas in Muslim dominated areas it has crossed 50 thousand, he added.

The mobile enrolment drive is meant to ascertain the strength of the BJP membership all over the country, the State BJP cheif said, adding that after being enrolled in the BJP, cards will be issued to every BJP members which will be of immense help in providing safety and security to all the members when they moved outside the State and will save them from harassment by security forces if they are not involves in criminal activities.

BJP will become a big family one day after the enrolment drive is completed, he opined.

Maoists allege IED blasts aimed at discrediting revolutionaries

IMPHAL, December 23: The Maoist Communist Party, Manipur, has stated that it is closely monitoring the `colonial policy of the Indian State` in which it causes bomb explosions in public

IMPHAL, December 23: The Maoist Communist Party, Manipur, has stated that it is closely monitoring the `colonial policy of the Indian State` in which it causes bomb explosions in public places specially targeting innocent people to defame revolutionaries of Manipur.

It added that the party will take severe punitive actions against those involved in such bomb attacks against people.

The party has began investigating the series of bomb blasts in the last few days which defy any notions of humanity with intentions of defaming the people`™s movement and the revolutionary movement in the State, it said.

It is confirmed beyond doubt that a man suspected of being the `master planner` of a `Black Gang` which is carrying out these acts of `State sponsored terrorism` has went into hiding in some other place along with his whole family after the party started tracking his whereabouts, it said.

`Our cadres of Loktak Pana, who traced the man to Kairenphabi in Bishnupur after suspecting him to be the master planner, have confirmed that the man along with his family have left the place some time ago when they went to Keirenphabi to inquire about him`, it added.

On further inquiry, it was learnt from the villagers of Keirenphabi and Moirangkhunou that the man accompanied the Thanga A/C Congress candidate, now the MLA, while canvassing for votes during the last Assembly elections, it said.

After investigating the relationship between the Thanga A/C MLA and the Black Gang, especially the man suspected of being the master planner, it has been established that the leaders of such gangs and their families are kept under State protection in various places of the State, it further stated.

Under the watch of the Thanga A/C MLA, several Black Gangs are mobilised together to act out surrender dramas and who are made to carry out such activities under the cover of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreements. He is raising at least two such gangs and this is a well known fact among the people of Thanga A/C especially the villagers of Keirenphabi and Moirangkhunou, the press release said.

The party won`™t spare those trying to defame the revolutionary movement in the State whether those responsible are the biggest revolutionary outfit in the State or a small Black Gang, it warned.

Descendants of modern polo founder makes pilgrimage to polo`s original home

IMPHAL, December 23: The year 2014 could be described as one of the most significant years in the history of Sagol Kangjei (Polo) for it has marked the 150 years

IMPHAL, December 23: The year 2014 could be described as one of the most significant years in the history of Sagol Kangjei (Polo) for it has marked the 150 years of the day when Manipuri Polo went international.

150 years ago, on January 1864, a Manipuri Polo team visited Calcutta (now Kolkata) led by the then British army officer Lt. Joseph Ford Sherer, commandant of the Kooky Levy and Civil Employment, to play the first international Polo exhibition match, there on the game spread to England and throughout the world.

Commemorating this remarkable year, the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association (MHRPA) invited the living descendents of Lt. Joseph Ford Sherer, father of the English polo, to witness the 8th Manipur Polo International tournament played at the oldest polo ground situated in Imphal, the Mapal Kangjeibung.

`It`™s a great honour though at the same we were a bit surprised when we got the invitation from the organisers to come and witness the game of polo here in Manipur`, said Susan Booth the great great grand daughter of Lt. Joseph Ford Sherer speaking to IFP.

Susan came to Manipur along with her cousin Rosemary Pears who is also another great great grand daughter of the father of the English polo. Both the grand daughters who are now in their mid 70s were very excited about the visit.

`My mother would have been more thrilled than we are were she to be alive today`, said Susan.

Susan recalled that her mother, who passed away in 2011, would always be polishing souvenirs, an ink desk set made from two Manipuri pony hoof and silver salver, gifted to her great great grandfather. The family heirloom is now put on display at the English polo club museum.

`The general would be very proud and a little surprised to see the game he love being play all over the world`, assumed Rosemary.

She revealed that the UK team were also equally impressed as they are with the Manipuri pony adding that they would spread the word and experiences when they return to their country. `Now we are the ambassador for Manipur`, said an excited Rosemary.

Expressing her desire to visit Manipur again, Rosemary was overwhelmed by the rich culture of Manipur besides the war cemetery, the game of Polo etc which reminded her of Britain.

She described Manipur a cross road of east and the west and a very unique place when compared to other part of India.

Meanwhile, Retired IAS officer, Senjam Budhachandra, who is also the president of the MHRPA, revealed that the association has been propagating that `the present day polo originated from Manipur, the traditional polo-Sagol Kangjei` by organising Manipur International Polo tournament in the state since 1991.

Claiming that the tournament is one of its kinds played on Manipuri ponies, which is the symbol of Sagol Kangjei (Polo), he divulged that it was funded by the state Governments, business houses and nationalise banks.

Since its inception 1977 the MHRPA has been striving to popularise the game at its birth place Manipur by promoting polo tourism and also campaigning to save the Manipuri pony, which is on the verge of extinction, continued the MHRPA president.

Today the MHRPA has not only been able to garner the supports from polo enthusiasts but also live up to its objective of popularising the game at its `Birth place`.

Each year new polo playing nations take part in the tournament. This year`™s 8th edition of the polo tournament saw an overwhelming response from several polo loving nation. In all seven nations took part in the tournament including France, Mongolia, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, UK and USA besides the two Indian Teams (India-A nominated by Indian Polo Association) and India-B `“nominated by our MHRPA).

The tournament has also become a part of the annual Manipur Sangai Festival the largest tourism festival of the state.

`It`™s a great opportunity and great feeling to play polo at its birth place and at the oldest ground` exclaimed Pawel Olbryca, a player of team Poland.

Poland is one of the new teams that joined the Manipur International Polo Tournament besides Thailand, South Africa and Mongolia.

Pawel divulged that even as Polo is a new game to Poland, there are about 50 professional Polo players in Poland.

He observed that Polo has a lot of potential adding that in order to give a boost to the endeavour of the organisers they must come up with `New projects, new places especially new ponies, a finer breed`.

Pawel exhorted the organisers to keep pushing forward their endeavour to promote the game and save the animal.

Although the popularity of Polo and its origin gaining an overwhelming response, the indigenous Manipuri Pony which is the symbol of the game (Sagol Kangjei) are facing a threat of extinction.

According to MHRPA president, there are approximately 500 Manipuri polo ponies in the valley areas and below 1000 in the entire state.

The magnificent horse breed which is also known for its firm footing, were widely used by the British military during World War-II besides Polo.

Disappearance of grazing grounds, lack of investments to conserve ponies etc are some of the factors that largely contributed for the decline of ponies, claimed Budhachandra.

The MHRPA president further said that the Government must come up with a concrete and immediate measure in order to save the ponies.

The report of decline in numbers of ponies comes in the wake of the Government`™s proposed plan to establish a pony conservation site at Marjing Pony Sanctuary at Heingang, Imphal East district.

Police commandos arrest militant cadres during CI ops

IMPHAL, December 23: Security forces reportedly apprehended two militants cadres during separate counter insurgency operation conducted in the state. A statement issued by the PRO, Manipur Police, S Gautam Singh,

IMPHAL, December 23: Security forces reportedly apprehended two militants cadres during separate counter insurgency operation conducted in the state.

A statement issued by the PRO, Manipur Police, S Gautam Singh, on December 21 a combined team of Imphal West and Thoubal district police commandos arrested a cadre of the PREPAK while conducting frisking and checking during at Kakching Lamkhai.

The arrested militant has been identified as on Huidrom Deben Singh alias Eyamba, 45, son of H Ibotombi Singh of Wangoi Top Upokpi at present staying at Kakching Lamkhai.

It said that during investigation Deben revealed his involvement in extortion of money from general public and businessman for raising fund for the outfit.

Incriminating articles were also reportedly ceased from his possession, it said, adding that a case has been registered at the Kakching police station.

In another incident, a combined team of Bishnupur district police commandos and 12 Bihar Regiment arrested a self-styled Lieutenant division secretary of division No XX of the proscribed PLA/RPF identified as Warepam Jamson Singh alias Babu alias Lukhoi, 35, son of W Tomba Singh of Haobam Marak Ngangom Leikai at present staying at Langpok Makha Leikai, it said.

He was arrested during a search operation conducted at Langpok village and a 9mm pistol along with eight live ammunitions and one Chinese made hand grenade were seized from his possession, it said adding that a case has been registered at the Nambol police station.

The Song Must not Fade

Bertolt Brecht once wrote: Will there be songs in dark times? / Yes. / Of dark times. These words, pregnant with his characteristic intuitive brilliance, have also proven prophetic. There

Bertolt Brecht once wrote: Will there be songs in dark times? / Yes. / Of dark times. These words, pregnant with his characteristic intuitive brilliance, have also proven prophetic. There is poetry in life, even in its darkest times. In retrospect, even the leanest and most agonizing periods of anybody`™s life becomes the subject for nostalgia: all the more reason for those in difficulty never to give up. But more literally, have there been songs in dark times? Even a cursory scan of the list of Nobel Prize winners for literature in the post colonial era should provide the clue. For indeed some of the most powerful literature the world has seen have come out of the dark, poverty stricken, chaotic world of the newly decolonized Third World. The works of men like, Neruda, Walcott, Soyenka, Paz, Marques, Naipaul are evidence. Even though not Nobel Laureates there have been equally intense and powerful articulators of ideas like Achebe, Okri, Rushdie, Roy, Sen, Fanon`¦. The last named, Frantz Fanon, although his works were based on the conditions of Algeria of the mid 20th Century, are still considered a powerful portrait oppressed and oppressor binary anywhere in the world anytime.

The question then should not be all about doubts as to whether there would be songs in dark times, but about the quality of the songs in dark times. The demonstrated answer has been, these songs can resonate with a brilliance that can break new grounds and indeed add new colours to intellect as well as literary creativity. Dark times produce a peculiar angst and yearning for rebirth that can only find satisfactory articulation through creative outlets and critical minds. Creative energy thus built cannot remain bound all the time and there always comes a moment of truth when `Prometheus (becomes) Unbound`, to use another analogy from the world of literature. But if Prometheus must become unbound sometime or the other then there is also another uncomfortable fact. The wait for the time he matures and takes courage to shed his shackles can be terribly long, sometimes too long for creative energy to remain kinetic. It may even cool and become dormant, perhaps never to awake again.

What is the nature of Manipur`™s songs about its own dark times then? For dark times we are in without a doubt. Ours is no longer just a question of oppressor versus oppressed, for the line that divided the two is on the verge of vanishing. The oppressed and oppressors have become interchangeable. Here the mind is never without fear and nobody walks with his head held high. Few or nobody sing from the heart or speak from the mind. In such a circumstance, even the idea of freedom is no longer a lived experience but reduced to seminar room rhetoric, signifying empty semantics more than substance. Our intelligentsia have been less than articulate, or else have lacked the courage of conviction to be open or honest. Will our creative spirit ever become unbound then? Will we ever know the true essence of freedom? We wish our bards and intellectuals would honestly sing these tunes someday in the near future. Our arts have had a taste of the energy that only dark days can generate `“ energy which comes from a yearning for freedom, or a will to resist oppression. It therefore also signifies hope and aspiration. When hope is murdered, this energy too will die. The question which all of us who love the place should be asking at this moment is, are all the mindless violence, petrifying terror, paralysing intimidations, monolithic corruption, institutional injustice, doing precisely this?

Leader Writer: pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/the-song-must-not-fade/

Cabinet approves Film City, hints at introducing new building construction norms

IMPHAL, December 22: The State cabinet has approved setting up of a Film City in Imphal East and to revamp Art and Culture Department by creating more posts in the

IMPHAL, December 22: The State cabinet has approved setting up of a Film City in Imphal East and to revamp Art and Culture Department by creating more posts in the department, stated Commerce and Industries minister Govindas Konthoujam.

After the cabinet meeting, Govindas Konthoujam briefing the media at his official quarter in Babupara said the Art and Culture of Manipur is unique and quite popular around the globe. It has made Manipur a well known name in the international arena of Classical dance, he added.

Manipuri dance is an important performance whenever any Indian cultural troupe performs in an international platform, he said.

The film city being setup is one of the components for revamping the Art and Culture Department and the government has decided to create more posts of the department by recruiting more staff. About 200 to 500 acres of land has been identified today, the minister said.

Another component for the Arts and Culture department, a Cultural University in the state will be set up later, he added.

The cabinet has also discussed to amend the building by-laws which previously intended to make it mandatory for every house to harvest rain water by making it compulsory to have rooftop STV power plants in newly constructed houses, he informed.

Houses which have more than 100 square meters must be equipped with STV solar power panel sheets in their rooftops and the plots which have more than 1000 square metres must be equipped with STV solar power panel sheet of 1 KWP to 500 KWP respectively, he said.

The decision was taken to improve the power potential and decrease the power consumption of electricity grids, he added.

Dy CM reiterates bomb blast is act of terrorism

IMPHAL, December 21: The deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam who also holds the portfolio of Home minister on the concluding day of the winter Session Assembly termed the December 21 bomb

IMPHAL, December 21: The deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam who also holds the portfolio of Home minister on the concluding day of the winter Session Assembly termed the December 21 bomb blast incident in Khuyathong as an act of terrorism.

Speaking during the Calling Attention of the Session, Gaikhangam on the floor of the House came down heavily against the perpetrators of the bomb blast; maintaining that such acts are committed by people who do not have any meaningful objective. The act has been committed out of utter frustration, and it is a cowardice show of strength to the weak, he added.

He appealed to every right thinking people to join him in condemning the dastardly act.

He informed the House that a valley-based militant outfit is suspected to be involved behind the blast.

A case has been registered in this regard and investigation by his department is going on in full swing, and those found involved in the crime will be given befitting punishment according to the law of the land, he said.

Further he maintained that any individual or group who supposedly has divergent views against the government should address their grievances in a democratic manner instead choosing the path of violence.

He warned that if at all they want to challenge, they should challenge against rightful opponents, but not against the weak.

During the Calling Attention, Th Shyamkumar, MLA of Andro A/C drew the attention of the deputy CM on the non-issuance of appointment letters to the 315 selected ASIs.

In his reply, Gaikhangam pointed out that the Home Department is taking extra care and is rechecking documents submitted by the candidates, especially the certificates acquired from various universities across the country.

He assured that the scrutiny of the documents will be completed by January next year to enable the candidates to start training schedule.

Kh Joykishan, MLA of Thangmeiband A/C during Question Hour enquired whether there are any instances of the Police not taking up any action even though FIRs have been filed. He said there have been complaints from the public in this regard.

In his reply, Gaikhangam said that there are no such cases in the functioning of the Police. He informed the House that from 2012 to 2014, there have been 17736 FIR cases, from which 1324 have been charge sheeted and 9679 withdrawn.

Cabinet approves to upgrade 11 Govt. High Schools into Higher Secondary Schools

IMPHAL, December 22: The State cabinet has given the approval for upgrading eleven government High Schools to Higher Secondary Schools and to provide priorities to local people while recruiting contract

The selected eleven government High Schools which the Cabinet has approved to upgrade into Higher Secondary schools are Chapikarong Government High School, Sagang Government High School, Thalon Government High School, Parbung Government High School, Sagolmang

Government High School of Imphal East, Gelnel Government High School at Kangpokpi, Langmei Government High School at Tamei, Churachandpur Government High School, Nungba Government High School, Kangvai Government High School and Azad Government High School.

The Cabinet has also approved new post creation for those schools newly upgraded into Higher Secondary Schools. The government has also allowed new post creation for Principals and Vice-Principals only through an MPSC examination. During recruiting lecturers for the upgraded schools, educated local people eligible for the post and who are meritorious will be given first priorities.

The government`™s decision of recruiting local people was taken with the intension of creating an educational atmosphere in rural and remote areas and so that the posting of those lecturers might not be affected by further transfers to other places except their local areas in the future. The decision to upgrade High Schools in remote areas to Higher Secondary Schools were taken in consideration of those students who left their places in pursuit of higher studies after matriculation in remote and rural areas. The government intends to create a Knowledge hub in the hills and remote areas for poor students who after passing their Tenth and Twelfth exams couldn`™t continue further higher studies in towns and cities.

Rs. 5 lakhs for Khoyathong blast victims, Rs. 1 lakh for wounded

IMPHAL, December 22: The State cabinet has decided to give Rs 5 lakhs each to the families of those persons who were killed in the Khuyathong bomb blast on Sunday

IMPHAL, December 22: The State cabinet has decided to give Rs 5 lakhs each to the families of those persons who were killed in the Khuyathong bomb blast on Sunday and Rs. 1 lakh each to those critically injured in the blast, said Commerce and Industries minister Govindas Konthoujam.

He was briefing the media after attending a Cabinet meeting in the official chamber of the Chief Minister this evening.

The Cabinet strongly condemns the bomb blast yesterday which left three non-locals dead and several others critically injured, he said, adding it appealed to the people of Manipur to co-operate with the government in taking up measures to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.

Later, the Cabinet held discussions on the lack of manpower in the Manipur Disaster Response Force which prevents it from performing its duties. As of now, the State fire and emergency services are the first to respond when any natural disasters occurs in the State.

The Cabinet also agreed to strengthen the manpower in government libraries through a recruitment process for strengthening libraries at the ADC, District, Sub-Divisional and Block head quarters of hill districts level as libraries there are facing lack of manpower and have become defunct, he said.

Besides, students have been demanding to provide libraries in the hill districts, he added.

Judgment on Sharmila reserved

Friend Coutinho manhandled by anti AFSPA campaigners IMPHAL, December 22: A British citizen from Zanzibar, United Kingdom, of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Desmond Anthony Bellarmine Coutinho was rounded up

Friend Coutinho manhandled by anti AFSPA campaigners

IMPHAL, December 22: A British citizen from Zanzibar, United Kingdom, of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Desmond Anthony Bellarmine Coutinho was rounded up by supporters of Irom Shamila`™s anti AFSPA, 1958 movement outside the Lamphel Court complex while he was trying to sneak away.

Irom Sharmila was produced today before the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class of Imphal East, Wisdom Kamodang.

According to an eye witness account, Coutinho interfered in the court proceedings while Sharmila was presented before the court.

Desmond also submitted an application to have a meeting with Sharmila after which the court

permitted him to meet Irom Sharmila on December 25 between 11 am to 12:30 pm.

Judicial Magistrate Kamodang reserved his judgement on Sharmila till January 18 next year.

Coutinho, who accompanied Sharmila while she was about to give an interview to a media team outside the court room, was asked to stop by a supporter but he tried to sneak away, the

eye witness said, adding he was rounded up by anti AFSPA,1958 movement supporters.

Sharmila who was whisked away by security personnel watched with teary-eyes when Desmond was being chased.

Further, Desmond was rounded up outside the Lamphel court complex and was manhandled by the Anti AFSPA-1958 supporters.

Some people among the mob also charged him to be a spy or an intelligence agent trying to sabotage the anti AFSPA, 1958 movement.

Anti AFSPA campaigners accused him of disturbing the court proceedings and trying to defame the social movements carried out by Imas of Manipur.

Later security personnel of Lamphel Police Station whisked him from the scene to safety.

`Am I going to die today?` cried Coutinho repeatedly while he was being thrashed by the enraged anti-AFSPA movement supporters.

Supporters of Sharmila seized some items from Desmond`™s possession that included Rs 27,300, 450 Euros, pen drives, his passport and some court documents which were later submitted to the Lamphel Police Station.

Meanwhile, the Sharmila Kanba Lup in a release said it has lodged a complaint against Desmond Coutinho, a man who claims to be Irom Sharmila`™s lover, to the Lamphel Police and has submitted a list of items seized from in a confrontation today.

According to a release of the Lup, the complaint was submitted following interference by Desmond during court proceedings, and also for interfering in their social movement amounting to defamation of mass struggle for peace in Manipur, it said.

The lup has appealed to the officer in charge to take stringent action against the man as per the law of the land and also to investigate thoroughly the true identity of the person.

The lup has also stated that some items were also confiscated from Desmond. The confiscated items were, cash (Indian Rs.2730/- and Euro 450/-, 10 documents, 4 pens, a pencil, 5 pen-drives, 1 New Testament Bible, 2 passports, 1 ruler, 1 brochure, a muffler and 1 messenger bag, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/judgment-on-sharmila-reserved/

DM University Bill withdrawn, no immediate hope for raise in aided school teachers salaries

IMPHAL, December 21: The State is not able to pay 6th Pay Commission pay scale to the teachers of government aided schools due to financial constraints. The salaries given to

IMPHAL, December 21: The State is not able to pay 6th Pay Commission pay scale to the teachers of government aided schools due to financial constraints. The salaries given to them are from non-plan fund.

This was stated by M Okendro, Education Minister, Government of Manipur, during the discussion on a matter of public interest, responding to a discussion raised by L Ibomcha, MLA on the non-payment of 6th Pay Commission pay scale to the teachers of government aided schools.

L Ibomcha maintained that teachers of government aided schools are living on meagre salaries paid by the government. He said the salaries of these teachers are also paid irregularly.

Okendro said that the teachers deserve pay scale of 6th Pay Commission, however, the government is facing paucity of fund in this regard. He pointed out that there are 604 government aided schools in the State, in which 1664 teachers are serving.

He continued that because of the financial constraints, the government has not been able to clear their salaries in time. Their salaries are cleared between 8 to 9 months at one time and besides the salaries are being shared among the teachers, he said. The teachers will have to bear with the government and wait for the implementation of the 6th Revision of Pay salary, he added.

Further the Education Minister maintained that at present there are 332 vacancies of teachers in the government aided schools. He informed that the Cabinet had already decided to fill up the vacancies, before adding that the process will be completed by January next year.

He also informed the House that there are schools with very few students and at the same time there are also schools with good number of students.

Earlier in the Session, Okendro moved for withdrawal of the Dhanamanjuri University, Manipur Bill, 2014. The House unanimously agreed for its withdrawal and accordingly the Bill was withdrawn.

During the question hour Session, the minister informed that the government is considering of improving Pettigrew College under the State Plan. He was answering to a question raised by Samual Risom, MLA of Ukhrul A/C.

Vehicle carrying betel leaves burnt, two assaulted

LAKHIPUR, December 22 (JNN): Unknown assailants burned a vehicle carrying betel leaves and two passengers who were travelling on the vehicle were also beaten up yesterday evening at round 8.30

LAKHIPUR, December 22 (JNN): Unknown assailants burned a vehicle carrying betel leaves and two passengers who were travelling on the vehicle were also beaten up yesterday evening at round 8.30 pm.

The incident occurred when the vehicle, Xenon with registration number MN 06L 6574 travelling from Lakhipur to Imphal carrying betel leaves was burned by six unknown assailants near an area between Lakhipur and Jiribam and thrashed the two passengers travelling on the vehicle as well.

However, one person who was accused to be part of the mob was arrested by Lakhipur police and interrogation is going on.

According to the statements of the driver Kangjam James Singh, 30, son of K. Kumar Singh of Singjamei Chinga Makha Ningthoujam Leikai and Kangjam Romakanta Singh, son of (L) K. Binoy Singh, two unknown persons who came on a bike were waiting for them at an area named Juyang.

They were stopped beaten the two and even snatched away their vehicle keys and mobile phones.

The assailants did not give any time for an explanation and started burning the vehicle.

A few other people also later came to the place and told them the assailants told them they belonged to the underground KYKL.

Cash worth Rs. 18,000/- an RC Book as well as Permit documents were also destroyed in the fire, the statement said.

Both the victims were later rescued by the Lakhipur Police.

The however vehicle was burned completely and could not be salvaged.

Sangai National University Bill deferred on account of lacunas, Select Committee to develop it further

IMPHAL, December 22: Hopes for immediate passing of the much talked about Bill to set up the proposed Sangai National University had to be deferred to the next session because

IMPHAL, December 22: Hopes for immediate passing of the much talked about Bill to set up the proposed Sangai National University had to be deferred to the next session because of lacunas in the Bill.

A Select Committee of the House chaired by the Education Minister of the State, Moirangthem Okendro however has been set up to further look into the modalities of setting up the proposed `Sangai National University`™.

Okendro today proposed sympathetic consideration and passing of the Sangai National University, Manipur Bill, 2014, however, the Bill fell through because of various `lacunas`™, as pointed by the Opposition benches.

The Chief Minister, O Ibobi, who is also the Leader of the House, during the discussion, after listening to the observations of the members, proposed that a Select Committee of the House be set up further look further into the proposed Bill.

He said the Committee after studying the details can submit a report before the commencement of the next Session, which could take place in March next year.

He continued that there are supplementary Votes on Account left to be taken up in the next Session as well, thereby the Select Committee could furnish the report in time before passing the Bill.

He also proposed the names of the members of the House to be included in the Committee.

The House unanimously agreed to form a committee, with the Education minister M Okendro as chairman supported by members including Dr Ng Bijoy, L Ibomcha, Dr Ibohalbi, Y Surchandra, Govindas K, Dr Chaltonlian Amo, Alex Pao, Dr Ratan, I Hemochandra and Samual Risom.

Accordingly such a committee was formed by the Speaker of the House, Th Lokeshwar.

Earlier, taking part in the discussion, Dr I Ibohalbi, MLA of Oinam A/C welcomed instituting of a private university in the State.

He said setting up another university is a long felt requirement for students who wished to pursue higher education.

To an extent, the proposed university will help in lessening the mass exodus of students to other States, and moreover there is not a single private university in Manipur, he added.

Dr Ibohalbi, however, questioned the credentials of Manav Bharti Charitable Trust, which is going to institute the proposed university.

He said the allotted 25 `“ 30 Acres of land should not be sold off to the said Trust. Instead, its ownership must be retained by the State government. Later he proposed for setting up a committee to look into the modalities.

Dr Ng Bijoy, MLA of Khurai A/C during the discussion also proposed retaining ownership of the allotted land of the proposed university. He further proposed that State representatives like the Governor, the CM and any member from the council of ministers must be included in the governing body of the university, and added that the matter must be thoroughly discussed before passing it as a Bill.

L Ibomcha, MLA of Keishamthong A/C also taking part in the discussion maintained that he does not endorse Sangai to be the name of the proposed university. He said that animal names are conventionally not employed as name of university.

Minorities as Majorities

Generalizing policies developed on data that are the mean of national figures is dangerous and can cause another kind of injustice. While the need for such a commission in the

Generalizing policies developed on data that are the mean of national figures is dangerous and can cause another kind of injustice. While the need for such a commission in the attempt to re-include many dis-included communities into the power sharing equations of the political process cannot be disputed, grotesque imbalances can result if local adjustments are not made to these mechanisms for levelling out playfields. As for instance, on a national basis, Christians may form a minuscule minority of the total Indian population of one billion, but in Manipur, and for that matter most other Northeast states, this cannot be so. Again, the list of religious minorities in the national context consists basically of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, and together they form a mere 18 percent of the total population of the nation, but in Manipur these religious communities form a good 41.49 percent. And there will have to be something seriously wrong with anybody who thinks 41.49 percent is a threatened minority. The case of the Sikhs should also underscore the point. The religious group may be a minority against the total population of India, or even in most other Indian states, but only the most demented would think of including the community in the list of minorities in the Indian state of Punjab. Let this thought be a poser in all discussions of affirmative action, in Manipur and indeed anywhere else. This is the Indian reality, especially so because it is a multi ethnic, multi religion, multi lingual country, and its states were formed largely on linguistic lines. Majority and minority statuses therefore would have to be qualified in a much more nuanced manner.

Quite visibly, much of Manipur government`™s efforts in the past at levelling out playfields have not given much thought on this aspect of the problem. In the government`™s need to take politically correct stances, goaded generously by lobbyists of all hues, it has most of the time ended up implementing minorities related policies of positive discrimination with little questioning on who actually are threatened minorities. The subject being sensitive and prone to misinterpretation, a caveat needs to be thrown in here. Positive discrimination must remain a part of the democratic polity. There can be nothing more beautiful than the idea of giving a lift to the slow and others disadvantaged by historical and economic circumstances, but there must be closer scrutiny in screening the disadvantaged from the advantaged, for often the line that divides the two categories can be extremely blur. In the backdrop of the recent controversy over a drive for conversion to Hinduism announced by sections of the Sangh Parivar, to which the ruling party at the Centre the BJP also belongs, this issue has somewhat become accentuated. In Manipur, the conversion issue periodically has tended to flare up into violent frictions between traditional communities such as the Kabuis and those among these communities who have chosen to convert to other religions, especially Christianity, bringing out the complexity of the problem. This is also true of the Meiteis, but here it is a little more layered, as the Meiteis have become a multi religion community.

In these cases the question who is the threatened minority often becomes impossible to decide `“ the religions of the new converts or that of the communities they once belonged to. In the eyes of the secular, liberal law, that lays a premium on individual rights, the converts hounded by their communities would indeed be the `victims`, but in eyes of traditional laws that is weighted towards community rights and community survival, the so called `victimizers` of the converts may actually be the ultimate `victims`, for on the larger canvas, they are the ones who are in a hopeless minority, and they are the ones who are fighting the odds to keep their original traditions alive. There are many other similar situations in which the law has ended up pampering and patronizing the privileged, but is deaf on actually threatened cultures and value systems. More than in Manipur, this paradox can be excruciating in states like Arunachal Pradesh, where most traditional communities still practice their original indigenous belief systems, but are increasingly leaving their original folds.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/minorities-as-majorities/

Winter Session of State Assembly ends with passing of Protection of Interest of Depositors Bill

IMPHAL, December 22: The 9th Session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly concluded today with the House passing the Manipur Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Bill, 2014.

It may be mentioned that the 3-day winter Session which started from December 18 culminated with passing of only this Bill by the Assembly.

Two resolutions were adopted by the House, namely the repeal of `The employment of Manual Scavengers and construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993` and `Rectification of amendments to the Constitutions of India falling within the purview of clause (b) of the proviso to clause (2) of Article 368, proposed to be made by Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty `“ First Ammendment) Bill, 2014, as passed by both Houses of Parliament`.

Chief Minister of the State, Okram Ibobi Singh, who also holds the Finance Department, moved the Bill to be taken into consideration in the House.

Moving the Bill, O Ibobi maintained that there have been various reported cases of fraudulences practiced by financial establishments in the name of giving high interest rates to depositors within a short period of time.

The Bill will help in checking such malpractices and it has provision to give a penalty of 10 years imprisonment to those found guilty, he added.

Further he continued that the practice is widespread not only in the State but also in other parts of the country. He said that in recent time, there has been a rise in number of fake financial establishments in guise of private banks which target particularly the gullible middle-class depositors.

Ibobi recounted that even in his Thoubal Assembly Constituency there have been reports of fraudulent banks running away after duping the depositors. These depositors had invested their hard-earn money, some of them by selling off their paddy fields, he added.

Taking part in the discussion, Dr I Ibohalbi, MLA of Oinam A/C welcomed the Bill moved by the CM, and said that the need of the hour is to check the rampant frauds committed by bogus organisations to earn easy money.

He said the Saradha Group financial scandal is a case in point, and also an eye opener to take stringent measures against financial malpractices.

MLA L Ibomcha joining the discussion demanded that the quantum of penalty in such cases should be heavier than that has been mentioned in the Bill.

Samual Risom, MLA of Ukhrul Assembly Constituency also took part in the discussion.

Meanwhile during the Zero Hour of the Session, MLA Kh Joykishan of Thangmeiband A/C drew the attention of the House over the December 21 bomb blast in Khuyathong which killed three people and had left several injured.

Member, L Ibomcha also highlighted the non-inclusion of the names Meitei Pangal women who took part in the historic Nupi Lal.

He said their names are not included in the list of Nupi Lal fighters by the State Nupi Lal observation committee.

The State government must take a note on it, he added. He also pointed out that the result of staff nurse examination conducted in August last year has been left pending by the authority concerned.

Dy Speaker greets State on X-Mass

IMPHAL, December 21: The Deputy Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, MK Preshow Shimray has greeted the people of the State on the occasions of `Christmas`™ and `New Year`™. In

IMPHAL, December 21: The Deputy Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, MK Preshow Shimray has greeted the people of the State on the occasions of `Christmas`™ and `New Year`™. In a public message, the deputy speaker has extended his best wishes on the joyous occasion of Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

In his message, he asked people to love one another and put aside their differences like Christ who loved and forgave our sins for peaceful co-existence and development of the State.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/dy-speaker-greets-state-on-xmass/

Militant gunned down during gun-fight with security forces

IMPHAL, December 21: Troops of 26 Assam Rifles reportedly gunned down a militant suspect during a fierce gun battle last night along the Indo-Myanmar border, Churachandpur district. Sources said that

IMPHAL, December 21: Troops of 26 Assam Rifles reportedly gunned down a militant suspect during a fierce gun battle last night along the Indo-Myanmar border, Churachandpur district.

Sources said that the shoot-out between 26 Assam Rifles and some cadres of an armed group occurred yesterday evening at Suangphu, Behiang under Singhat police station and lasted till this morning.

According to a PIB (Defence Wing) statement, a border patrol party comprising of troops of Red Shield Division was moving towards BP 39 to carry out routine border patrol.

It said at around 6:15 pm hours when the party was near Suangpho village, approximate 1.7 km south west of Beheng, the patrol party came under effective fire of the insurgents.

The party returned fire and killed one insurgent, it said adding that subsequently the area was cordoned and a search was conducted.

The dead insurgent was wearing a combat dress and a Rifle Grenade MG-2, fired rounds of AK-47 and an HD cartridge were recovered from him, it said.

Meanwhile, it is also learnt that a powerful IED exploded at the Hiangtam area when reinforcement team of the AR was heading towards the encounter site.

However, no human casualty was reported during the blast.

A team of the concerned police station led by its OC had also rushed to the spot till the filing of this report.

Former CM Rishang Keishing releases Prof Gangmumei`s book

IMPHAL, December 21: A set of three books written by Professor Gangmumei Kamei `A History of Modern Manipur (1826-2000 A.D): A Study of Feudalism, colonialism and Democracy` was released today

IMPHAL, December 21: A set of three books written by Professor Gangmumei Kamei `A History of Modern Manipur (1826-2000 A.D): A Study of Feudalism, colonialism and Democracy` was released today by former Chief Minister Rishang Keishing at the auditorium of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Porompat, Imphal.

The retired professor of History, Manipur University who is also a former National Fellow of Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla said it was Padmashree (L) MK Binodini Devi, a member of the erstwhile royal family of Manipur who committed him to write a book on feudalism during a meeting and that he was waiting for the opportune time.

He said on getting the national fellowship at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla from 2010 to 2012, he chose to write on the subject.

If the (L) MK Binodini Devi was alive today, she did be pleased with the book, observed professor Gangmumei Kamei.

The three books have 199, 195 and 215 pages respectively and are published by MP Misra CMD Akansha Publishing House, New Delhi with the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla owning the coprights. The set of books is priced at Rs 6000.

Chief guest of the function Rishang Keishing said that Manipur is a small State comprising of many tribes and its population is divided into small groups of tribes and communities.

Today`™s politics is creating a chaotic environment rather than call for unity among the different tribes and communities which has only resulted in souring the relationship between the people and the State losing its history.

Prof Gangmumei Kamei with his books is reviving this lost history, he asserted.

Meanwhile, the former Chief Minister of the State while showing solidarity to Irom Chanu Sharmila said he has submitted his views to the government to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Later after the end of the book release function during an exclusive chat, Rishang Keishing said he has also submitted to the State government to implement the Inner Line Permit System or any other similar Act to safeguard the indigenous communities of the region and at the same time to repeal AFSPA.

Speaking at the book release function, director, Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University prof N Joykumar Singh stated that the prof Gangmumei Kamei is a social worker who contributes to the society through his pen.

He said prof Gangmumei Kamei`™s earlier book `A History of Manipur: Pre-colonial perid`™ is one of his remarkable contributions to the State.

Professor of Anthropology, Manipur University prof MC Arun said that prof Gangmumei Kamei is an eminent historian and writer of the State.

He said the set of books released today will also contribute a lot.

Prof MC Arun also wittily noted that he is lucky to witness the `birth`™ of new book in a hospital, referring to the release of the book in JNIMS.

PWD Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh and Professor of History, Manipur University prof Lal Dena also attended the function.