Category: Manipur Mail

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Sep 27 : The Center has convened State / UTs Food Ministers meet on Oct 1, 2013, to discuss implementation of National Food security Act which got accent of the President of India on September, 12, 2013 after having the nod of parliament. Prior to the meet, State Food Secretaries will meet on Sept 30, 2013 to set the agenda for the Ministers conference.
The States have been provided one year for the implementation of the historic Act which will ensure heavily subsidized foodgrains to about 82 crore people as their legal right. But Haryana, Himachal, Rajsthan, Uttranchal, Mizoram and Delhi have already started its implementation. The meeting to be inaugurated by Shri Sharad Pawar, Union Minister for Agriculture and presided over by Prof K.V Thomas, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution will discuss criteria to be adopted for inclusion and actual identification of beneficiaries by the States. Issue of fresh ration cards, women empowerment under the Act, doorstep delivery of foodgrains, setting up of Grievance Redressal Machinery at district and state levels, computersation of Targeted Public Distribution System, creation of scientific storage capacity at various level for timely delivery of foodgrains and opening of new Fair Price Shops wherever required will also be taken up during the deliberations.
Measures to ensure more effective role of local bodies in the implementation of National Food Security Act, revamping of vigilance committees at various levels to keep a watch on distribution system, norms for identification of beneficiaries for distribution of sugar and kerosene under PDS, as National Food Security Act does not have BPL category, are also on the agenda of the meet. Under the National Food Security Act the Center will provide financial assistance to states/UTs for meeting the expenditure on intra-State transportation, handling and margins to be paid to FPS dealers.
Clarifications to the issues raised by the States in this regard will also be provided during the day long discussions. Senior officials of PMO, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture and Planning Commission will also attend the meet. The National Food Security Act is a historic initiative for ensuring food and nutritional security to the people.
It gives right to the people to receive adequate quantity of foodgrains at affordable prices. It seeks to address the issue of food security in a life cycle approach – separate entitlements for pregnant women and children, from 6 months of age and upto 14 years, besides entitlements to a much larger population to receive subsidised food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System. It will cover about 75% and 50% of rural and urban population under TPDS as a single category, with uniform entitlement of 5 kg per person per month.
They will get rice, wheat and coarse grains at the prices of Rs. 3/2/1 per kg. Entitlement of existing AAY households will be protected at 35 kg per household per month under the Act. Corresponding to the all India coverage, State-wise coverage will be determined by Central Government. But within the State, beneficiaries will be identified by the concern state.
The Act has special focus on nutrition support to women and children. Pregnant women and lactating mothers to be entitled to meals and maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000. Children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years to be entitled to meals under ICDS and MDM schemes. The Act encourages woman empowerment as it provides that the eldest woman of the household of age 18 years or above to be the head of the household for the purpose of issuing of ration cards. Grievance redressal mechanism at the district and state levels will ensure effective redressel of grievances.
The Central Government will provide assistance to States in meeting the expenditure incurred by them on transportation of foodgrains within the State, its handling and FPS dealers’ margin as per norms to be devised for this purpose. The Act has significant provisions for transparency and accountability. PDS related records will be placed in public domain, Social audit will be taken up and Vigilance Committees will be set up.
Provision for food security allowance to entitled beneficiaries has been made in case of non-supply of foodgrains or meals. Penalty on public servant or authority will be imposed by the State Food Commission, in case of failure to comply with the relief recommended by the District Grievance Redressal Officer.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/state-food-ministers-meet-to-discuss-implementation-of-nfs-act/

President of AMWJU, W Shamjai today submitted a memorandum to Chairperson PCI through Kosuri Amarnath
Convenor, Sub-Committee on Safety of Journalists Press Council of India (PCI) New Delhi
The content is reproduced below.
The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU), on behalf of the media community of Manipur, takes this opportunity to express our extreme gratitude to the Press Council of India (PCI) for visiting our state with the intention of finding out about the threats to the freedom of media and the safety of journalists in Manipur. Indeed, in view of the ongoing conflict situation in the state and the frequent attacks on the freedom and integrity of the mediapersons in Manipur, your visit and investigation is a much required and highly anticipated event.
With the hope and expectations that you will act with sincerity and intervene to uphold the cause of a free media in Manipur, we would like to lay down a few points for your kind perusal:
MANIPUR AND CONFLICT
Manipur, situated on the Indo-Myanmar border, is home to as many as 33 listed scheduled tribes and a number of unspecified tribes, apart from the Meities, Meitei Pangals (Muslims) and scheduled castes.
The 33 listed scheduled tribes are, again, broadly divided into the Naga and Chin-Kuki-Mizo groups. Among the Nagas, the most prominent ones are Tangkhul, Mao, Poumai, Rongmei, Lamkang, Zeme, Maring, Anal, Maram, Thangal and Liangmei, while Thadou, Simte, Gangte, Vaiphei, Paite, Hmar, Khongsai, Sitlou, etc, constitute the important Kuki tribes.
Thus, multiple histories, multiple cultures and multiple identities are spread out and struggling for recognition within a small geographical territory of 22,327 sq km.
An unfortunate by-product of these inherent complexities and certain insensitive governmental policies
is that, today, there are more than 40 underground outfits operating within the state. This situation is further aggravated by the militaristic response of the Centre and state government. Laws such as the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) of 1958 are enforced to help the security forces in their mission — AFSPA has been in force in the hills since 1961 and in the valley (except for the Imphal municipality area) since 1980. Thus the conflict has been heightened instead of resolved.
TWIN THREADS; CONFLICT AND THE MEDIA
It would be interesting to note here that the peoples’ movement in the 1930s led by Hijam Irabot, which is regarded as the first resistance movement in Manipur also gave birth to its media industry. The first recorded event in the history of the print media in Manipur is publication of the journal Meitei Chanu by Hijam Irabat in the mid-1920s. Hand-stencilled and cyclostyled by Irabat himself, the publication
survived for only a few editions. During the 1930s and 1940s, a number of publications came out including Yakairol, Lalit Manjuri Patrika, Bheigyabati Patrika, Dainik Manipur, Manipur Matam, Manipur Paojel, Ngashi, Praja, Anouba Yug, and Meitei Leima, although most enjoyed only a short lifespan. These were followed, in the post-Independence era, by political papers like Prajatantra and Simanta Patrika.
Today Manipur is considered one of the top states in eastern India regarding media presence, with around 30 news dailies and journals, a remarkable number of home cable networks, correspondents and stringers for various national and international news agencies.
MEDIA; WORKING CONDITIONS
Majority of the private media houses in Manipur are print media publishing daily newspapers, eveningers and news magazines. Satellite channels like ISTV in Imphal, Image TV in Thoubal and Hornbill in Churachandpur are representatives of the private electronic media. Of course, DDK and AIR are the
state-run electronic media.
Most of the private mediahouses in the state are mostly small business enterprises. Initially these used to be run by political organizations (eg: Prajatantra and Simanta Patrika).
However the last few years has seen a major change in the profile of the mediahouses with more and more moneyed
businesspersons/organizations entering into the field.
Despite this, the working condition of the mediapersons almost remains the same. There are no shift systems and most journalists work from early in the morning (sometimes starting at 5-6 am for an early or out-of-station coverage) and ending in the wee hours of the night. The starting pay for most journalists is minimal, and even after many years on the job, the pay is basic and perks are very few. Though a pension policy has been recently initiated by the Government in collaboration with AMWJU, there are no health insurance or accident-related schemes taken up by the state government or the mediahouses, and in many cases, journalists with prolonged illness are either terminated from the job or have been forced to be on leave without pay for the period of their illness. Special considerations for women journalists such as drop-home services and maternity leave are yet to be discussed.
FIGHTING TALL
All these conditions notwithstanding, the media community of Manipur has been working with integrity to fulfill its responsibility of being the watchdog of the society. Ironically, it is this growing awareness of the media as a powerful platform that is now threatening press freedom in the state – as both the state and non-state actors try to control the flow of information and/or misinformation to the masses.
Underground insurgent groups operating in the state, which earlier relied on pamphlets and word-of-mouth as the major means of spreading their ideas and diktats, are now turning to newspapers and news channels to carry their statements and propaganda to a larger audience. The state military too takes the media on guided tours of areas “cleared of insurgents,” press briefings, display of arms captured during operations, and surrender ceremonies, while also relentlessly bombarding the press with their media releases about their “civic action programmes.” Failure to adhere to the new rules of propaganda warfare has led to frequent harassment of mediapersons, in the form of killings, bombings, life attempts, assault and arrests.
From 1993 till date, as many as seven journalists have been shot dead in Manipur. There has been numerous life attempts, bombings, etc, and almost every day there are threats over the phone, and pressure from the underground outfits in Manipur. In most cases, mediapersons respond with dharnas, suspension of publication, blank editorials, rallies and demands to the government for a safe atmosphere to work in. Each time, the threat is withdrawn but
working conditions for journalists remain the same as most outfits believe it is their moral right and duty to pressurize newspapers into carrying their press releases the way they want them carried.
The state too has freely squeezed the media. During the 1950s, government actions such as seizing papers, imposing fines, closure of printing presses and imprisonment of editors were commonplace following any criticism of the government. During the 1970s, when the underground movements began to spread, the seizure of press material and arrests of journalists were routine. Two editors – Salam Bharatbhusan of Hueiyen Lanpao and Meinam Mithai of Matam – were even booked under the National Security Act and imprisoned for six months. In April 2000, N Biren Singh, currently a minister and formerly the editor ofNaharlogi Thoudang, was arrested by the state police for publishing a speech by activist Th Iboyaima, on charges of it being ‘seditious’ and ‘anti-national’.
For over a week in July-August 2007, journalists were sitting in dharna in protest of a ‘bomb gift’ sent to the Sangai Express after it refused to publish an insurgent group’s press release. Yet on 2 August, the state government passed an order against the publication of news items “directly attributed to unlawful organisations, organised gangs, organisations, terrorists and terrorist-related organisations considered to be subversive and a threat to the integrity of the state and the country.” The order even included obituary notices. This created a dire situation for the integrity of the media.
On December 23, 2012 Thangjam Dwijamani @ Nanao was killed in the police firing during an indefinite general strike imposed by various organizations protesting against the alleged molestation of a film actress by a self-styled Lt Col of NSCN-IM at a musical event on December 18. What was more significant about his death was that if not for the fact that his camera was rolling and caught his shooter in the face; his killing would have been passed off as a collateral damage or even worse, implicated him as a rioter, intent on causing communal violence. In fact his last minutes of tape saved his honour as a mediaperson who was killed in the line of duty.
On August 10, 2013, the National Investigation Agency, under The Ministry of Home Affairs, Guwahati, Assam issued an order to the Editor, Naharolgi Thoudang asking the mediahouse to produce a copy of a photograph related to the 32nd raising day of underground group PLA published in the newspaper on September 25, 2010, as well as name and details of the reporter who had taken the photograph.
Barely a fortnight later, on August 24, a faction of an underground group, called Military Defence Force (MDF) -Thouba Group issued ‘drastic action’ – meaning life threats – against not only mediapersons but also the newspaper hawkers and distributors and their families for not publishing their press release. In the said press release the group had claimed their hand in killing an auto-driver, and the mediapersons under the All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) had chosen to abide by their local code of conduct.
This is the first time that hawkers and distributors are being threatened, probably because the journalists refused to kowtow to the demand of the underground groups. For many days things were at an impasse as hawkers could not move about freely and distribute the newspapers. This made the editors of the newspapers take charge and sell the newspapers themselves, to show that they will stick by their stand. Though the hawkers are back at work, the threat of the underground group still exists till date.
Such attitudes of the state government and its police/army as well as the underground groups towards journalists are symptomatic of the growing lack of space for free expression in Mampur. While the state responds to people’s movements demanding justice with curfews, teargas, mock bombs and rubber bullets, there is a lingering silence on the side of the people regarding the actions of the underground groups, the silence being enforced either due to fear or mandatory acceptance.
CONCLUSION
Like the average person in the state, the media fraternity in Manipur too has been trying to face the challenges thrown up by the ongoing conflict in their own way. To preserve freedom of the press, the AMWJU has drawn up safeguards, including proper identification of sources, official invitations for press conferences, press releases to be duly signed with the organisation’s seal on the letterhead, setting a timeline for submission of press releases. The media has also asserted its rights to take editorial decisions to withhold news “if the arguments and counter-arguments become harmful to the state and could claim human lives.”
This self-censorship, though controversial, must be seen in the context of the precarious sociopolitical condition of the state. However, these rules do not seem to have worked very well as the militants have their own tactics by which to get their press releases published, keeping the press constitution and rules intact.
In fact, the life of a journalist in Manipur and his/her responsibility to uphold the sanctity and freedom of the press has become increasingly difficult and dangerous due to the pressure from all sides. And it is in this regard that the All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), on behalf of the media community of Manipur, takes this opportunity to press for your urgent attention and timely intervention with regards to the media and the journalists community of the state by focusing your kind attention on the recommendations listed below :-
1. Manipur State government must strengthen protection for journalists and act swiftly to prosecute those responsible
2. Manipur State government must ensure a safe working atmosphere for journalists in the state
3. Improvement of working conditions of journalists in the state
4. A medical/health scheme to cover illness-related expenses of the journalists and their family
5. Adequate compensation in case of killing/injury for the journalists as they are working in adverse conditions
6. Press colony for safety of media persons. Manipur government is willing to create such a colony
7. Better working condition and remuneration for working journalists, by making a special provision for small states like Manipur where media business is small and revenue limited
8. Provident fund for working journalists
9. Revision of journalists pension amount (at present a retired journalist gets Rs. 2000 and widow of a journalist Rs. 1000 per month)
10. Security protection for media team visiting militant infested interior areas, for rural reporting etc.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/amwjus-letter-to-pci-on-safety-issue/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Sep 24 : RPF, President Irengbam Chaoren in a message to the people on the 35th Raising Day of the People’s Liberation Army said, “It is a historical fact that our forefathers fought valiantly with all their might against invading British forces in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.
They did fight unto the last even though their defeat was a foregone conclusion. Yet, they fought to the last man to preserve Manipur’s sovereignty and protect the sanctity of its territorial boundary which was drawn and guarded by the blood of our ancestors. It is rather disappointing that the present generation seems nonchalant even as we have been colonised by India for the last 60 years as if we are destined to live under colonial rule for good.
Such complacent and passive nature of the present generation renders our sense of nationalism and patriotism questionable. “Do we have the moral right to pay tributes and sing about the glorious deeds of our forefathers?” It is one pertinent question we need to ask ourselves.
If we ponder for a possible answer to this question, then certainly one can see the true picture of the ongoing revolutionary movement and understand the indispensability of such a movement.
It is a great misfortune that some sections of people rather than studying who are the conspirators tend to blame the revolutionary groups for all social evils and untoward incidents which are genuinely or apparently connected with
the revolutionary movement. This tendency not only undermines the revolutionary movement but would also ultimately ruin the nation which by implication means insurmountable obstacles for future generations. It’s time for all our people to join or lend their support to the historically legitimate revolutionary movement instead of reducing ourselves to the status of pawns and create enemies within ourselves.
Changes and transformations seen in Manipuri society which are engineered and steered by imperialist India and their local agents are too harsh. Corruption, violent race for amassing personal wealth, killings, groupism, inter-communal and intra-communal conflicts has become the order of the day. Large numbers of our youth have given themselves to intoxicating drugs and many unimaginable things and events are happening right before our eyes as a result of adopting the narcissistic and malevolent way of thinking, generally identified with Indians. To correct these social evils and reverse degeneration in our people’s character and ethos would be impossible without a complete revolution.
Herein lies another major reason for the essentiality of the revolutionary movement and its success can only save the nation.

It is a matter of serious concern that there are around 30 revolutionary groups in Manipur at present. If one studies how such a large number of groups came into being and who bred them, one cannot help implicate the Government of India. Birth of so many revolutionary groups through promotion of communal divide among the indigenous people of Manipur, nurturing pseudo revolutionary groups and then vitiating relationship among revolutionary groups to create rivalry and conflict are all parts of the Government of India’s policy aimed at de-escalating the liberation movement of Manipur. Countering such malignant policy demands certain roles from the ruling class of Manipur. The Government of Manipur, in the interest of the people, need to work sincerely to neutralise all pseudo revolutionary groups set up at the behest of Indian agents, and control their activities aimed at projecting genuine revolutionary groups in bad light. The Government of Manipur also need to work towards eliminating all sense of communalism deliberately cultivated and encouraged by the Government of India. At the same time, there is an urgent need for leaders of well established revolutionary groups to work relentlessly towards organising and mobilising all revolutionary groups having same goals and objectives so that all these groups which now appear scattered and drifting can struggle together under one common leadership. CorCom need to accept this momentous responsibility and strive to translate it into action.
Denial of freedom, rampant violation of rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the resultant misery being endured by the people of Manipur are consequences of entrusting political power to a select group of people who would readily dance to the tune of New Delhi and the situation is quite similar to the British period where the king nominated by them was put on the throne as nominal head of state. In addition to these miserable colonial situations, our people have started facing newer but equally grave threats under the Indian colonial rule. In another word, our people are now confronted with an all pervasive, risky situation associated with neo-imperialism.
Killings, arbitrary detention, harassment and all kinds of repressive measures unleashed upon the people of Manipur by the Indian military in the name of counter insurgency operations are classic characteristics of colonialism. These are threatening realities of colonialism and the scourge of neo-imperialism is equally grave. Rendering a nation or country economically dependent, dilution and assimilation of indigenous culture and traditions, abolition of indigenous religious practices and languages, posing challenges to indigenous identity are all not so vocal instruments of neo-imperialism but they are potent enough to eliminate an entire nation. We have heard many stories about extinction of several nations or some nations struggling on the verge of extinction on account of neo- imperialism’s merciless onslaught.
Here arises one pertinent and crucial question. How would we fight back the onslaught of neo-imperialism? It’s high time our civil society, scholars, intellectuals, media and students take up the issue vigorously. Perhaps, because of the series of fake encounters, unaccounted killings, rape and murder cases, bandhs and blockades, multiple challenges to national integrity, imminent loss of Manipur’s territory due to border fencing and numerous cases of human rights violation, our people can spare little attention to the devastating forces of neo-imperialism. The ever rising numbers of immigrants who originated from India are mostly workers. But their mode of exodus can be seen as an element of neo-imperialism. Perhaps, the immigrants themselves may not understand that they are acting as agents of neo-imperialism. Yet, it is easily discernible Government of India encourages continuous exodus of their people to Western South East Asia (WESEA). By using their poverty-stricken people as a tool, Government of India has been plotting to obliterate and ultimately vanish the indigenous culture, religious practices, languages and identity of the people of WESEA. The current of permanent exodus from India to WESEA including Manipur is not a recent phenomenon. It has been going on since many decades back and there is no sign of cessation until all the indigenous peoples of WESEA are assimilated or gobbled up completely. This is, in fact, India’s demographic invasion on WESEA, one of the many potent instruments of neo-imperialism.
India’s Look East Policy, Indo-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, proposed India- European Union Free Trade Agreement and Asian Highway-I (which would pass through Manipur) are all elements of neo-imperialism. The recent offer of Asian Development Bank to invest substantial amount of money for construction of roads in Manipur should not beguile our people. It does not mean ADB intends to build roads in Manipur for the people of Manipur. The truth is, ADB is interested to build standard highways on behalf of big companies in view of Manipur’s strategic location to facilitate trans-national trade and business activities. Given such a scenario, India would no longer be the sole agent of neo- imperialism vis-a-vis WESEA. Apart from India, many multinational companies, global financial institutions and other capitalist guilds would soon start exercising their influence over the region. Exploration of petroleum in Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Jiribam is an obvious move to exploit and loot Manipur’s natural resources by MNCs in connivance with the Government of India. There is nothing our people would gain from this intrusion by MNCs and India. Since the time of British colonialism, petroleum drilling has been going on in Assam, one of our immediate neighbours but it has benefited the people of Assam very little. Assam’s tea is known all over the world. Many landlords and capitalists turned extensive areas into tea farms. But it does not provide any significant benefit to the people of Assam. Rather, large numbers of Adivasis were imported from India and they were engaged in tea plantations. Now the population of Adivasis in Assam has swelled to such an extent that they have become a cause of communal conflict. For all these reasons, our people, by keeping all these imminent challenges in view, need to prepare ourselves so that we can overcome these challenges and save the nation from the unavoidable onslaught of neo- imperialism.
Last but not the least, one natural instinct of mankind is the desire to live freely. Even if imperialist India strives most cleverly with all its might and resources, it will never succeed to extinguish our people’s instinct for freedom. With imperialist countries unable to suppress freedom movements of indigenous peoples, many colonised nations have achieved independence. For instance, in 1945 one-third of the world’s population (750 million) were living in dependent territories. This figure came down to around 60 million in 1960. More than 60 per cent of today’s United Nations member countries were either colonies or Trust territories in the past. Unfortunately, the puppet government of Manipur has been rather welcoming the elements and policies of colonization and neo-colonization devised by India.
Divergent perspectives and concepts harboured by different communities in Manipur and the rising level of distrust is one bitter reality that came into being only after Manipur was annexed by India. Even today the colonial regime, taking advantage of a few faulty events recorded in history, has been consistently working to divide the people of Manipur on ethnic lines. People who are seeking alternative arrangement and those demanding Kuki state are all indigenous people of the land who lived and grew together. Divergent and contradictory political movements based on parochial ethnic interest and aspirations witnessed in Manipur at present are all aimed at achieving some material benefits from India. But these community based movements can never redress the common problems and sufferings being endured by all the indigenous communities. The misery of suppression and deprivation can be redressed only when all the indigenous people of Manipur are freed from the yoke of Indian imperialism. To defeat India’s policy of fragmentation on ethnic lines, all the indigenous communities need to join hands and build up our collective strength.
No community of Manipur can live happily in isolation. A plural society is the only way which can deliver a dignified life to all our indigenous people. There was/is no nation in the world comprising of a single ethnic group or community throughout its history for it is impossible. Our people need to abandon the wild theory of “one community, one nation”. At the same time, the concept of nation building based on the aspirations of majority community is now obsolete in a plural society. Given all these facts and realities, I would like to call upon all our people to reinforce our sense of unity and fight India, our common enemy collectively, and make Manipur, our common homeland, a pluralistic, progressive and egalitarian society.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/rpf-chiefs-message-on-eve-of-plas-foundation-day/

AIZAWL, Sept 24 NNN : Union Minister of State for DoNER, Paban Singh Ghatowar today visited Lawngtlai in Mizoram where he laid the foundation stone for construction of 49 School buildings within Lai Autonomous District Council.
Speaking on the occasion, the DoNER minister said that while Mizoram being one of highest ranking states in India in literacy rate, Lawngtlai district in the meantime stands at the bottom among Mizoram districts in term of literacy rate. While acknowledgement of this poor performance of the district the central government has initiated a plan to uplift Lawngtlai District in education, the Union Minister said.
It is in pursuance of this central government plan that the buildings for 49 schools in the district- 27 Primary Schools and 22 Middle Schools, are to be renovated which shall cost Rs. 11.09 crore, the DoNER Minister said, adding the initiative this time is in fact the second phase in execution of the central plan.
The visiting DoNER Minister Paban Singh Ghatowar on the occasion highlighted the various projects undertaken by Mizoram government under NEC. He mentioned that work has been done for 127 Projects so far, of which 67 projects completed and 64 projects being on, and also 67 new projects yet to initiate. Among the ongoing projects also include those within Lawngtlai District which are: construction of Lawngtlai College at estimated cost of Rs 13.09 crore; upgradation of Lawngtlai town at estimated cost of Rs. 11.82 crore; construction of Parva to Chimenosora Road at estimated cost of Rs.11.52 crore; construction of Lawngtlai Bypass Road at estimated cost of Rs. 10.29 crore; construction of Lungpuighat Road at estimated cost of Rs. 15.45 crore; Greater Lawngtlai Water Supply Scheme at estimated cost of Rs.14.50 crore; and construction of Lai Hostel in Aizawl at estimated cost of 5.75 crore, the DoNER Minister mentioned.
Within a few years from now, Lawngtlai district will have immense progress, said the DoNER Minister, who also expressed his happiness over visiting Lawngtlai for the second time.

Accompanying the DoNER Minister during his visit to Lawngtlai, Mizoram Finance Minister, H. Liansailova, thanked the people of Lawngtlai in advance saying it has been heard that they will provide their land free of cost for the proposed Lawngtlai Bypass road. Adding that working in full cooperation with the people is often fruitful, H Liansailova shared his hope that when the Look East Policy is materialized, Lawngtlai district will benefit a lot from it even to the extent beyond their expectation. New Land Use Policy (NLUP) also enhances immense development to the State, and for its continuation too, there is enough fund, the minister said.
Besides H. Liansailova, Health Minister Lalrinliana Sailo, Tourism Minister S. Hiato and Lok Sabha MP CL Ruala also accompanied the DoNER Minister, and from DoNER Ministry Jt Secretary V.B Pathak and Director Uma Kant were also there.
On his arrival at Lawngtlai Helipad, the DoNER Minister was received by Lawngtlai DC J. Hmingthanmawia, Lawngtlai SP BK Singh, LADC CEM C.Ngunlianchunga and other top officials.
The function for foundation laying function held in front of LADC Building was presided over by Lawngtlai DC, while LADC CEM delivered short speech, and Hmunhre, LADC Planning Board Vice Chairman delivered Vote of thanks
The DoNER Minister returned to Aizawl after the programme. As reported earlier, the DoNER Minister is here on a 2-day visit.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/doner-minister-lay-foundation-stone-for-49-school-buildings/

Gurgaon, Sep 24 (ANI): Clarifying his ‘J&K ministers paid’ remark, former army chief General V.K. Singh on Tuesday said the money paid to Jammu and Kashmir politicians wasn’t bribe, but to win the people’s hearts.
“I would also state very categorically that all that I talked of when I said money was given to politicians or to NGOs was never for their political purpose, for their individual purpose, for lining their pockets, for bribes to them,” General Singh told media here.
“It was meant solely and wholly for certain stability events which were organised by the intelligence units under the overall umbrella of ‘Sadbhavana’ to win the hearts and minds of people and to get people away from separatists propaganda, to get people away from separatists activities so they can ensure that they contribute towards the development of the state and support the government,” he added.
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde earlier today said the former chief should name the ministers to whom money had been given from a secret defence fund for social schemes.
“He should name the ministers to whom money has been given. We can probe if details are given,” he said.Reacting to accusations that he had funded a Jammu and Kashmir politician to topple Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government, he said those who levelled these allegations were anti-nationals.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/money-paid-to-politicians-v-k-singh/

Hyderabad, Sept 24 (ANI): YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy walked out of the Chanchalguda Central Prison in Hyderabad on Tuesday, after being granted bail in a disproportionate assets case a day before.
Thousands of supporters and party workers gathered outside the jail to greet their leader.
Jagan Reddy, who was arrested on 27th May last year by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), spent 16 months in jail on corruption charges.
The CBI has accused Reddy of getting huge investments from various individuals and firms into his businesses as quid pro quo for the favours granted by the Andhra Pradesh Government that was headed by his father and former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy before his death in a helicopter crash in September 2009.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/jagan-reddy-walks-out-of-jail/

Aizawl, Sept 24 NNN : Mizoram corruption watch-dog People’s Right to Information and Development Implementing Society of Mizoram (PRISM) has decided to hold a discussion platform called ‘14 Mizoram Watch’ in the last week of October in order to study the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC)’s Election manifesto of 2008 assembly elections and to have critical evaluation of how far the Congress government in Mizoram has implemented its manifesto. Simultaneously, the PRISM also resolved to conduct a programme for the comprehensive study of different political party manifestoes by comparing and contrasting the same in view of 2013 assembly elections.
Like in the previous 2008 assembly elections, the PRISM in its executive meeting today declared that as soon as the date and time of 2013 state assembly elections is declared, it will have temporal halt on its ‘Anti Corruption’ campaign but will start an exclusive study of the background of different candidates in different respects and exposed the same before the public. In case of any faulty or wrong information in the nomination paper (self declared affidavit) filed for the assembly election, PRISIM decided to take stern measure against the illicit candidate to bring right judgment over the case.
PRISIM further requested any interested person to report himself/herself to PRISIM office if he/she wishes to talk about the status of implementation of election manifesto by the present government.
Earlier on September 1, PRISM had issued ‘Peoples’ Manifesto’ to eight different political parties in Mizoram for the upcoming Mizoram assembly elections due in either October end or November.
The manifesto contains 20 chapters in which there are 87 duties and obligations where any political party that comes to power after the poll must implement them. Of the 87 duties, 43 are to be done within a specific time, while the other 44 duties do not have a time limit.
As stated in the manifesto, the Chief Minister ( whoever he may be) should not hold the office of any department designed for developmental works. One point of the manifesto said salaries of ministers or MLAs should be reduced. Besides, plans will be prepared for land utilization and administrative reform and land reform that should be undertaken. “It is expected to check corruption thereby bringing transparency and accountability in the administration,” the manifesto stated.
If the manifesto is implemented by the government, families none of whose members are employed in government departments will also be benefitted.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mizoram-body-to-discuss-manifesto-of-2008/

New Delhi, Sept. 24 (ANI): Congress Party leader Jagdambika Pal on Tuesday said his party faces no threat if the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) joins the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA, and added that the alliance would prove the theory that Chandrababu Naidu’s party bases its politics on opportunism rather than on principle.
“Chandrababu Naidu is getting ready to join hands with the BJP. Till now, he was also talking about the Third Front, and meeting Sharad Yadav. Thus, it is clear that he is not planning his future based on principles, but instead based on opportunism—depending on where he will gain the most,” Pal said.
“Their alliance will not make any difference to the Congress Party. Even in 2004, when the TDP was part of the NDA, we won the elections and have been in power ever since. This is the same old story, and will play out the same way,” he added.
Pal also demanded answers from the BJP, if the alliance was to go forward, as their party position has maintained its support for the creation of Telangana—which is in direct opposition to the TDP’s demand.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party will have to answer on what basis the TDP will be, once again, part of the NDA. The TDP is against Telangana, while the BJP is for it, which puts them in complete opposition of viewpoints. So, will the Bharatiya Janata Party change its stand once Naidu comes in?” Pal said.
After the TDP walked out of the National Integration Council (NIC) meeting on the Telangana issue, party chief Chandrababu Naidu on Monday criticized the apathy of the Centre towards the agitation of the ‘burning’ state of Andhra Pradesh.
“One state is burning, virtually, because of your political gain you have done so many things in that state. More than two years Telangana, now Seemandhra, so far no action has been taken, you are not calling anybody, you (Central government) are not discussing it with anybody,” Naidu said.
Earlier, the TDP chief had met with President Pranab Mukherjee and political leaders in the national capital to seek an amicable solution to the division of Andhra Pradesh and, with it, the creation of Telangana.
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had earlier said that the process for the formation of the new state of Telangana would take about five to six months as per constitutional norms.
“The Congress Working Committee (CWC) has passed a resolution and further procedure will be done according to the Constitution of India. Telangana will be formed by following all the procedures and it would take five to six months,” he said.
He also added that Telangana was being formed because it was the oldest issue and the people of that region have been agitating and demanding the formation of a separate state since 1956.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/tdp-will-return-to-nda-congress/