Day: November 4, 2014

IMPHAL, November 3: To salute the indomitable spirit of Irom Sharmila in her struggle for a democratic, just and humane India, All India Forum for Right to Education flagged off a month long, All India Shiksha Sangharsh Yatra-2014 on November 2, which will continue till December 4 said Prof Anil Sadgopal, president Standing Committee AISSY at the Manipur Press Club here today.

Speaking at the press conference Prof Anil said that the movement will be held in various States and Union Territories through district-level Yatras along with five Zonal Yatras and will culminate at Bhopal on December 4, also in solidarity with the 30-year long struggle of the lakhs of Bhopal gas victims against ruthless imperialist onslaught on people’s lives and rights.

Prof Anil observed that the AISSY holds the idea that education is not meant for producing workforce for global market’s loot but for meeting socio-economic and cultural needs of the people and for building a democratic, socialist, secular and enlightened society.

He also said that the aim of AISSY is to promote equality, social justice and diversity by liberating education from communal, casteist, patriarchal, sectarian and anti-disability prejudices, discrimination, irrationality and superstition, and at the same time inculcating critical consciousness for social transformation, he added.

Prof Anil continued that AISSY resolved to wage a struggle in order to achieve a fully State funded and entirely free common education system from “KG to PG” including common neighbourhood school system up to class XII. It will also include the medium of mother tongue in multi-lingual context and establish India’s languages in all sectors of national life including trade and business and science and technology, said Anil.

Surjit Thokchom, executive member, AISSY also attended the press conference. He appealed all the people to join hands for united struggle to attain our rights.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/shiksha-sangharsh-yatra-reaches-imphal-salutes-sharmilas-struggle/

IMPHAL, November 3: The State government is pushing the Centre to take urgent steps to ensure safe and early release of six Manipuris arrested by Myanmar authorities in 2013.

Sources said the State Home department had moved a proposal to the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter at the earliest possible with the Myanmar government through diplomatic channels to ensure their release.

The six are identified as H Yaima alias Suren Khuman, son of H Jugin, K Herojit son of K Ibohanbi, K Sanjitkumar alias Ibomcha son of K Ibohanbi, M Sanatomba, son of M Lalitabi, Y Gindle, son of Y Memma and P Open, son of P Tamureima, sources said.

It is also learnt that on October 14, 2014, State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had himself written to the Union Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj drawing her attention to the matter.

The Chief Minister in his official letter had said six Manipuris were arrested by Myanmar security on June 17, 2013 while they were allegedly visiting a lake in the neighbouring country named Thoibi-pat, a legendary lake for the Manipuris.

The lake is believed to have a closed affinity with a mythological princess of the State having the same name as the lake.

The State government had taken up the issue with the MEA since September 2013, however, there has been no progress on the matter, the Chief Minister is said to have written to the Union Minister.

The Chief Minister is also said to have highlighted before the Union Minister that although the State Home department had been informed on September 17, 2013 by MEA, BSM division, government of India under secretary (Myanmar) Anima Barnwal in an official letter that the MEA has taken up the matter with the Myanmar authorities and that the Embassy of India in Yangoon has issued a note to the Myanmar Ministry for Foreign Affairs, there has been no further information on the progress of the matter.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/cm-pushes-centre-to-secure-release-of-manipuris-in-myanmar-custody/

IMPHAL, November 3: Contraband drugs worth around Rs 4.5 crores in the grey market which were seized during the year 2012 and 2013 in 17 different cases were destroyed today.

The Drug Disposal Committee under the watch of its chairman DIG Range IV Kh Chandramani Singh set on fire the contraband drugs at Kiyamgei Pal Ahanbi, near the Sheetal Sanskrit Vidyapeeth with due permission from the relevant authorities.

Committee members including SP NAB S Gautam and additional SP Law and Order Husne Jaman were also present during the drugs disposal.

Speaking to media persons, Chandramani said the drugs seized were registered under 17 separate police cases in different police stations.

The disposed drugs include 44.014 kilograms of ephedrine and pseudoephedrin tablets, 47,852 strips of Actiman Tablets, 10341 strips of PETA-TR tablets, 41043 strips of Actifeel Tablets, 91354 strips of Respifed Tablets, 63411 strips of Actisun Tablets, 50392 strips of Robocoff Tablets, 29909 strips of Mucoson Tablets, 56386 strips of CU-Kuf Tablets, 219976 number of Profed tablets, 12800 numbers of Nitrosun (N) 10 Tablets and 226787 number of tablets of Spasmo Proxivon (SP) capsules, he said.

According to the DIG, the destroyed contraband drugs are worth atleast Rs. 4,39,28,270 crores in the grey market.

It may be mentioned that the same committee had destroyed 4110 kgs of Ganja worth around Rs 20 lakhs registered under 32 different cases on June last at Pundongbam Mamang Ching Khangla Houbi Ground Imphal East.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/huge-contraband-drugs-worth-rs-45-cr-destroyed/

IMPHAL, November 3: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi inaugurated an Information and Tourist Hall at the Manipur Mountaineering Institute Complex, Lamdan today.

Manipur Tribal Development Corporation constructed the hall with funds from the Union Tourism Ministry under the watch of the State Directorate of Tourism.

In the inaugural function, the Chief Minister said the place can be developed as a tourist spot with the assistance from various Union Ministries so that it can attract tourists from other states and countries.

Potable drinking water will be made available through GI pipes to the villagers of Lamdan and the Adventure Sports Complex, he said while also assuring that the Loktak-Leimatak road which passes through Lamdan will be upgraded to an all weather road.

The government will help upgrade the Manipur Mountaineering Institute (MMI) into a Regional Institute and improve the infrastructure of the complex with funds from the Union Tourism Ministry, he added.

If the law and order situation of the State improves and the infrastructure is developed than the complex can be turned into a training place of MPS and MCS probationers, he said, adding that a school of international standard can also be established.

Before the inauguration of the Information and Tourism Hall, the Chief Minister also surveyed the place where a View Tower will be constructed.

The inauguration ceremony which had the Chief Minister as the chief guest was also attended by MTDC chairman Manga Vaiphei as the function president. Commerce and Industries minister Govindas Konthoujam, Tourism and YAS Parliamentary Secretary Mairenbam Prithiviraj were the guests of honour. Thanga MLA T Mangi Babu and the Deputy Commissioners of Churachanpur and Bishnupur also took part.

After the inauguration of the complex at Lamdan, the Chief Minister along with other ministers visited the site where a water front is coming up in Takmu.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/lamdan-could-be-developed-into-a-tourist-spot-ibobi/

IMPHAL, November 3: The State government once again failed to submit its counter affidavit in a PIL case regarding erection of churches within the RIMS compound today, resulting in a division bench of the Manipur High Court comprising of Chief Justice Laxmikant Mohapatra and justice N Kotishwar directing the State to submit it within three weeks time.

It may be mentioned that former Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) project director Dr Khomdon Singh Lisam, a resident of southern Palace Compound, Palace Road Imphal had filed the PIL before the court (PIL no 19 of 2013) against illegal encroachment inside the RIMS complex referring to Supreme Court’s ruling against erection of religious structure on educational institute owned by the government.

The petition had stated in his PIL that the construction of two churches inside the RIMS campus is illegal and as such pleaded the court for a direction to the authority respondent, the director of RIMS for speedy eviction of the un-authorised occupants under the provisions of the Manipur Public Premises (Eviction of un-authorised occupants) Act, 1978.

The PIL has also prayed for providing a temporary space for gathering of family members of patients in the hospital and make earnest prayer to God by Hindus and namaz by Muslims so long as the Christians are performing invocation and benediction with chapel services in the existing churches inside the RIMS campus not to deny equality before law under Article 14 (read with Article 15, 19, 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India.

Of the 11 respondents, respondent no 10 and 12 namely Lamphel Rongmei Baptist Church and Lamphel Baptist Church had submitted their counter affidavits in the PIL to the court on July 25, 2014 through their respective pastors.

However, respondent no 1 the State of Manipur represented by the Chief Secretary, Respondent No. 5, the Commissioner (Revenue) Government of Manipur, Respondent No. 6 Deputy Commissioner, Imphal West, Respondent No. 7 Deputy Settlement Officer, Respondent No. 8 the Survey and Settlement Officer, Directorate of Settlement & Land Revenue are yet to submit their counter affidavits.

During today’s hearing, advocate Th Manihar Singh represented the petitioner while advocate general Th Ibohal Singh stood for the respondents.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/state-directed-to-submit-counter-affidavit-within-threeweeks-in-rims-encroachment-pil/

Imphal, November 3: Amidst the disqualification cases slapped on 10 MLAs under the Tenth Schedule at the Tribunal Court of the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly, another fresh case has been filed against Langthabal MLA Karam Shyam.

Sources said that the case has been filed on October 18 at around 11:55 am before Speaker Th Lokeshor by three members from two political parties of Manipur. The case filed is to initiate a disqualification proceeding against Langthbal MLA Karam Shyam under paragraph 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule r/w Article 191(2) of the Constitution of India and relevant provisions of Manipur Legislature Assembly Rule 1986.

The cases were filed by Lok Janshakti Party worker Kh Vimal, BJP workers N Momon Meitei and K Sharatchandra. The complainants mentioned that Karam Shyam was elected as an MLA of Thangthabal AC in a Lok Janashakti Party ticket in Tenth Manipur General Assembly Election, 2012.

Later, he was appointed as one of the National general secretaries after being declared as a star campaigner in several assembly elections outside Manipur.

Earlier before the LJP joined the NDA for the second time on March 3 this year, it was an ally of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) headed by the INC which formed the government at the centre from 2008-2013.

It is however unfortunate that Karam Shyam had been supporting the Congress led government at the state which contravenes with the decision of the party which has been functioning at the national level, the complainants said.

In the present day coalition politics with the decision of the political party leader to change the alliance, the members/legislators must also go along with the leader otherwise it would be tantamount to defying the party, entailing disciplinary action or disqualification proceeding, they further stated in their complaint.

It may be recalled here that the Tribunal of the Speaker under the Tenth Schedule is continuing with the hearings of disqualification. There are five disqualification cases against MSCP MLAs who joined INC filed by the MSCP led by Adim Pamei. The Speaker is also hearing cases against five AITC MLAs who are charged with indulging in anti-party act.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/disqualification-case-filed-against-langthabal-mla/