Month: November 2014

By R Lester Makang

UKHRUL, November 30: A huge number of people from across Ukhrul district turned up to pay their last respect to late Y. Wungkhai, tatar NSCN-IM during a grand condolence service held at TNL Hall before finally laying to rest his mortal remains at the yard of his private residence located at Dungrei, Hungpung on Sunday evening.

The grand condolence service which was organised by the Tangkhul civil society organisations under the aegis of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) at its Assembly Hall at 11 am today morning, was attended by church elders, leaders of TNL, Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (TNWL), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), Tangkhul Shanao Long ( TSL) and public members from different parts of the district.

It may be recalled that late Y Wungkhai who hailed from Khamasom Khullen village in northern Ukhrul, was found allegedly murdered in his own residence around 3pm on Friday last. Sources said that he was alone in the house on the fateful day. No clues whatsoever regarding his death has so far been established.Various Tangkhul leaders in their condolence messages during the service, deeply conveyed their last respect to the departed leader. They also strongly condemned the gruesome murder of the dynamic Naga leader while expressing their steadfast solidarity to the bereaved family. The civil society leaders at the same time lauded the selfless service rendered by the late NSCN-IM leader during his lifetime while asserting that his contributions toward the cause of the Nagas were worth emulating for all.

Thereafter his mortal remains was taken back to his private residence at Dungrei Hungpung and finally laid to rest at 3 pm as per the Tangkhul customary ritual amid silent homage.

Late Y Wungkhai was 75 and he is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. He served as CAO at WTR Ukhrul during the period around 2005.

Meanwhile, Raphei Katamnao Long (RKL) has condemned in no uncertain term the brutal murder of (L) Y Wungkhai on November 28 last while he was alone at his own house. The apex students`™ body of northern Ukhrul said that (L) Wungkhai was one of the energetic elders of Raphei who were very much concerned for the welfare of the people of the area apart from being a Naga national worker.

RKL has also appealed to all not to repeat such act of crimes, while calling upon all to work for attainment of peace and tranquility in Raphei in particular and Ukhrul district in general.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/ukhrul-public-pays-last-respect-to-nscnim-leader/

IMPHAL, November 30: Strengthening Northeastern States by upgrading infrastructural development under the Act East Policy is among the top priorities of the National Democratic Alliance led government in the center.

This was stated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his brief halt at the BJP State office of Nityaipat Chuthek Imphal, after attending the concluding function of the Sangai Festival this evening.

The PM was received by Th Chaoba, president of the State BJP, M Asnikumar, secretary and executive members of the party. The function was also attended by ADC and Municipal Council members of the party.

Exuding confidence that Imphal-Mandalay bus service will soon be a reality, the PM said the matter was discussed well with his Myanmar counterpart during his recent visit to the country.

Modi continued that the success of the Act East Policy will give a boost to trade and commerce and better connectivity of the Northeast region with other South East Asian countries. In this regard, Modi said the States of this region should be prepared beforehand, adding that railway connectivity work was launched for Meghalaya yesterday as part of the government`™s effort to include the State in the railway map of India.

Further the PM said that his government is seriously working towards changing the old face of NE to a new look. The government is thinking of providing many skill development schemes for the unemployed youths of Manipur.

He maintained that even though the BJP has no elected member in the State Assembly, the hard work done by the workers will bear fruit and make the party stronger in the region. It is always a pleasure to sit and talk with the party workers in spite of tight schedules, he added.

He also said that he cannot forget the support given by the NE people during his poll campaigns for the 2014 Lok Sabha. And at the same time, we cannot neglect the expectations of the people placed in the NDA government, he said.

Chaoba thanked the PM for coming to the State by sparing time from his busy schedules. He also drew the attention of the PM to the need for improving the Imphal`“Jiribam road within a specific time frame.

The State BJP chief also proposed that classes for the proposed Sports University can be started at SAI complex, and construction work for the said university should be taken up soon at a site which is free from controversy.

Later, BJP Manipur Pradesh submitted a memorandum to the PM on various issues. The memorandum includes pleas for improvement of road connectivity along the two National Highways and repealing of Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958.

It also dwelled on games and sports, health sectors, human resource developments, Act East Policy and air transports, agriculture and allied sectors, environment and ecology, demographic imbalance and indigenous people, science and technology, power, foreign trade and border pillars, and issues relating to minorities in Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/strengthening-ne-is-priority-of-nda-government-pm/

JIRIBAM, November 30: The government continues to neglect and overlook the condition of the young widows of Jiribam sub-division, lamented Handicapped Rehabilitation Organisation, HRO Lakhipur Jiribam general secretary Ranita Devi during a press conference today.

The conference was held jointly by HRO, Heinoubung Awang Women Welfare Association, HWWA and Central Board for Workers`™ Education, CBWE as part of International Fortnight long observation Protesting Violence Against Women of the Women Action for Development, Imphal.

The State government seems to be more concern with the well-being of the animals, Ranita said elaborating further that training on the safety of the wildlife are being conducted in the State but none for the safety of the womenfolk.

CBWE volunteer Kh Binasakhi Devi said there is a need for trainings on how a woman should behave and live with their husbands and children.

Women should also undergo training to help in providing for their families, she said.

Heinoubung Awang Women Welfare Association, HWWA general secretary Y Inaobi Devi said she had expected Jiribam to be much developed, however, she has been disappointed.

She said it turns out women are looked down in Jiribam.

She further appealed to the MLAs of the State to resign if they cannot work for the welfare of the womenfolk.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/civil-organisations-allege-government-of-neglecting-issues-confronting-womenfolk/

IMPHAL, Nov 30: Speaking at the closing function of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2014 today, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had highlighted several issues of the State before the Prime Minister including development of infrastructure especially the highways, upgradation of RIMS to the status of AIIMS, improving connectivity both surface and air connectivity.

Ibobi said not just Manipur but the country is suffering from a shortfall of specialist doctors, and therefore this needs to be augmented.

He suggested upgrading RIMS to the status of AIIMS, as Manipur has enough faculty to run such an institute. He said such a venture would also not incur extra expenditure from the Centre.

Highlighting the plight of road connectivity, the CM in particular mentioned the Imphal-Silchar highway which has been in a deplorable condition for the last 40 years or so.

`I am not putting the blame on anybody, but it is a fact that the responsibility for the upkeep of this highway has always been with the BRO but for whatever their difficulty, the road remains virtually unmaintained, he added.

The Chief Minister also reminded Modi that there a plan to connect Porbandar in Gujarat with Silchar by an expressway. He reminded the Prime Minister, India extends beyond Silchar in the East and the Expressway should extend up to Moreh via Imphal.

Touching on another issue, he also said although the State wants to bring in peace and stability in the region and resolve the armed conflicts in the region once and for all, it cannot do away with even an inch of the State`™s territory.

Manipur is a peace loving State and want to co-exist peacefully with its neighbouring States, however, we cannot sacrifice even an inch of land, he elaborated.

Today`™s closing function which was organised by the department of Tourism was also attended by Governor of Manipur Dr Krishan Kant Paul, deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly Th Lokeshwar Singh.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/cm-highlights-to-pm-states-problems-which-the-centre-can-mitigate/

IMPHAL, November 30: The food stalls at the Sangai Festival claimed that they were made to face needless harassments in the course of the security arrangement for the Prime Minister`™s visit.

Speaking to the media this evening near the venue of the festival, a representative of the Chinjak Festival group said that the last minute notice of the Commerce & Industries director, government of Manipur to remove LPG cylinders from the venue on the eve of the Prime Minister`™s visit came as a surprise.

`But we have cooperated with the organiser in larger interest of the festival`, he added.

He continued that today after the PM had left the venue, the stall owners tried to bring back the LPG cylinders into the stalls but the security personnel forced them to transport the heavy load through the main entrance.

`We had to carry the cylinders over our heads from the Andro Parking area amidst the heavy rush of people,` he lamented.

Another participant, Toijam Priyokumar said that today being the last day of the festival they needed to sell their products to recover the deposit money of Rs 10 thousand.

`But we were not allowed to be in a position to do so because of the harassment meted out to us`, he said.

He went on to claim that the festival did not seem to have been meant for the general public, but for the ministers, MLAs and high ranking officials of the government only.

He also alleged that some security personnel allowed LPG cylinders of their close relatives inside the venue, which is shameful and condemnable.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/sangai-fest-food-stalls-complain-of-security-harassment/