Day: October 1, 2015

KANGPOKPI, October 1: The United People`™s Front (UPF) reiterated its strong resistance and enmity against the three controversial bills passed by the Manipur State Assembly on August 31 and at the same time slammed the alleged mob`™s bossy agitation over the bills in Churachandpur.

Speaking to media persons this afternoon at Kangpokpi, UPF Information and Publicity secretary Thanglenlal Doungel, who is also the chairman of Kuki Revolutionary Front (KRF), said that UPF has already clued-up both the Centre and State governments about its strong resistance and its enmity of the three controversial bills.

He continued that the front will never blend with any Acts or Provisions which undermine and imperil the rights and privileges of the tribal in general and the Kukis in particular.

While sharing the pain and grief of the nine bereaved families, Thanglenlal Doungel said that UPF salutes and honours the 9 young bloods who `heroically sacrificed their today for better tomorrow.`

Meanwhile, the UPF has strongly denounced the torching of its general secretary`™s residence and vehicles in Churachandpur on September 26 by the alleged `bossy agitators.`

The UPF vehemently condemned the unfortunate bossy agitation in Churachandpur over the controversial bills and expressed our unhappiness over the burning of the front`™s general secretary`™s residence and vehicles said UPF Inf.&Pub.Secretary.

`It is extremely a dispirited episode when some bossy agitators torched the residential house and vehicles of UPF general Ssecretary, Thanglianpau Guite, who is also the president of ZRO/ZRA on September 26, a significant day of the UPF and KNO`, asserted Thanglenlal Doungel.

He recalled that on September 26, the two umbrella organizations of the Kuki arms group UPF and KNO had markedly agreed on important issues which never existed before among the two umbrella organizations for the welfare of the people.

`It is very unfortunate that on this special day an unforgettable heartrending event occurred in the Kuki revolutionary movement`, averred the UPF Information and Publicity secretary, while adding that the Thanglianpau Guite is a national worker for tribal unity.

The UPF also appeals the general public to take up any form of agitation in a very democratic ways and eschew violence in future.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/upf-condemns-bossy-agitation-in-ccpur-reiterates-stand-against-bills/

IMPHAL, Oct 1: In a sensational judgment predicted to have wide implications, the Supreme Court today ruled that a court case pending in the High Court of Manipur since April 19, 2012, pertaining to a charge that sitting MLA of the 27-Moirang Assembly Constituency, Mairembam Prithviraj had furnished false affidavits in his nomination paper for the election to the current 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly held in January 2012, be disposed by end of February 2016.

The judgment is an admonition on the manner the respondent in the case, Mairembam Prithviraj has been using his clout to repeatedly have the case adjourned, but equally an adverse commentary on how a single bench of the Manipur High Court has been allowing this drama to carry on, thereby denying justice in the case.

The case against the sitting MLA was filed by Pukhrem Sharatchandra Singh, who had also contest the election against Prithviraj on the Nationalist Congress Party, NCP, ticket, but lost to his Congress(I) rival Prithviraj.

When his appeal in the Manipur High Court was kept adjourned inordinately, Sharatchandra took the matter to the Supreme Court, which made its ruling on October 1, 2015.

The Supreme Court ruling noted that the Sharatchandra had `objected to the nomination of the respondent as per Section 36(2) of the Act on the ground that he (Prithviraj) had failed to file the proper affidavit as prescribed under Article 173 of the Constitution and further the affidavit was a forged one..`

Sharatchandra also charged that Prithviraj`™s claim in the affidavit that `his highest educational qualification is MBA, and he had passed out from the Mysore University` is not true. With this `The appallent challenged the election before the High Court of Manipur at Imphal in Election Petition No.1 of 2012.`

The Supreme Court ruling also said that Prithviraj made a written response in the High Court case only two years after the charge was filed.

Since then, he has been through his counsel, filing a number of miscellaneous applications to have the Manipur High Court adjourn the case. The SC judgment lists 10 of these miscellaneous applications by the respondent, and a single judge bench of the Manipur High Court has been admitting them, thereby keeping the case pending without any result.

In 2014, when the case was not moving at all in the Manipur High Court, the appellant took the case to the Supreme Court in Misc. Case E.P. No. 7 of 2014, seeking the disposal of his election petition.

The Supreme Court ruling cites several cases where the rulings were that prompt disposal of election cases is paramount to the interest of justice and delays can result positively in injustice. Citing Satya v Dhula Ram case, it said `The very object of expeditious trial will be defeated if the presentation of the election petition should be treated casually and lightly permitting all kinds of devices to delay the ultimate trial.`

In another case, the ruling said, `an election petition shall be disposed of as far as practicable within six months from the date of presentation of the election petition as required by Section 86(7) of the Act.`

Citing yet another case it said `if the vexatious applications are entertained, it would defeat the very object of expeditious disposal of election petition as envisaged in Section 86(7) of the Act.`

It also said, `In the case at hand, as we have stated, the elected candidate has been taking time at his own pleasure and leisure and filing applications as he desired giving vent to his whim and fancy and the Court has granted adjournment in an extremely liberal manner.`

The Supreme Court ruling also said its direction to the Manipur High Court to dispose of the case by the end of February 2016 is not just in the interest of justice, but also of the faith of the common man in democracy.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/sc-directs-hc-not-to-delay-affidavit-forgery-case-against-mla-beyond-coming-february/

IMPHAL, October 1: The Coordinating Committee, All Tribal students`™ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) is disappointed over utter lack of moral conscience and deafening silence to the call echoed to all the tribal legislators before and after the passing of the Anti- tribal bills, said a statement of the committee.

It said to dispel doubts and confusions amongst the general masses in general and the members of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), a critique had been delivered to all the legislators critiquing the three bills in detail; paving way for corrective measures before the expiry of the stipulated period of time for resignation.

However, tribal legislators have failed to feel the pulse and sentiment of the tribals, it claimed.

Now that, the matter lies in the hand of the President of India, a joint delegation comprising of the Co-ordinating Committee, ATSUM and the JAC will be heading for Delhi anytime from now on to meet central leaders at the helms of affairs, it said.

In regard to the line of democratic agitations to be launched, an emergency Assembly will be convened to decide the future course of actions only after the return journey of the delegation to Delhi, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/atsum-coordinating-committee-to-meet-central-leaders/

IMPHAL, October 1: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today inaugurated the newly constructed auditorium of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences and a two day long 5th annual conference of the Association of Physicians of India – East Zone and the 5th APICON- Manipur Chapter.

The inaugural function was held at the newly constructed auditorium.

Speaking at the function, the Chief Minister said the health sector is a top priority of his government and in its bid to upgrade JNIMS to a reputable institute of the North East region if not at the national level; his government is putting its best effort to acquire the required manpower and infrastructures.

The government`™s inclination is not only to meet the requirements of the MCI, but to render quality medical care to the people of the State and beyond, he said.

The Chief Minister said he has already informed the director JNIMS to look into the requirements of his institute and to renovate the infrastructure if required.

He said to facilitate proper and efficient treatment of patients, steps are underway to provide accommodation for professors and specialists of the institute within the JNIMS campus.

These are the first few steps undertaken to uplift JNIMS as a prestigious hospital in the entire North East region, he said.

At the same time, steps are underway to soon launch the Accident and Trauma Centre and blood separation equipment in the institute, the Chief Minister told the gathering.

He further appealed to the doctors and nurses who are considered next only to God to treat their patients with compassion and in more humane manners.

The Chief Minister also said that he is personally uninterested in inaugurating any incomplete structure as it only misleads the public of the government providing them a facility although it does not serve the purpose.

Meanwhile, before the inaugural of the two conferences, the Chief Minister had cut the inaugural ribbon of the auditorium and unveiled the inaugural plaque.

The dignitaries present also launched souvenirs of the 5th Annual Conference of API, East Zone & 5th APICON Manipur Chapter.

The function was also attended by PHE minister I Hemochandra, vice chairman of the organising committee Dr Th Bhimo Singh, chairman East Zonal API Committee Dr Giridhari Kar, director JNIMS Dr Deben Singh Laishram, Manipur chief secretary O Nabakumar Singh and other officials.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/health-sector-is-top-priority-says-cm-announces-steps-to-upgrade-jnims/

IMPHAL, October 1: A seminar on `An Emergent Manipur `“ The Way Ahead`™ was organized by IGAR (South) at Mantripukhri today attended by the Chief Minister as the chief guest.

The seminar was also attended by ministers, political leaders, government officials, officers of the Indian Army, Assam Rifles and Police, Faculty of Manipur University, NGOs and other prominent citizens of Manipur.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in his keynote address called for an urgent need to arrive at the way forward for peace and prosperity in Manipur by amalgamation of divergent views from varied sections of the society, so that Manipur could rightly become the `Nongpok Thong` or the Gateway to South East Asia.

The Chief Minister said he thinks the seminar is significant in the context of increasing need for introspection and the demands for transparency and accountability in the governance processes and functions.

`I hope that this seminar will throw up new ideas and views on further strengthening Manipur.`

`On my behalf and the State Government, I would like to re-affirm our commitment to create and sustain an environment conducive to communal amity among the various communities inhabiting our small but beautiful State.`

`I would like all the participants to express their views freely and frankly,` he said.

The people expect that this forum, which represents a cross-section of our people, will come up with some concrete and pragmatic suggestions on the way ahead. This will provide the State Government with a road map for the betterment of Manipur, he said.

Despite the rich flora and fauna which makes Manipur a place of immense tourism potential, unfortunately, we have not been able to put these into good use, he said.

We are plagued with the problem of militancy, underdevelopment and poverty. We do recognise that peace and progress and prosperity go together. We have taken up several welfare and development schemes for the benefit of our people. Unfortunately, frequent bandhs, blockades and widespread extortions have been hindrances to our endeavours, he said.

`I would like to emphasise that in a democratic set-up, like ours, there is enough space for all of us to express our concerns and grievances,` he continued.

`The burning down of Government properties as an expression of discontentment is an extremely wrong approach. Why should we destroy our own assets rather than doing everything to protect them?` he said.

`We, in our Government recognise that there is no alternative to `Good Governance`™.`

He continued `My government seeks to create and sustain an environment in which the rights enshrined in our Constitution are available to our people.`

`No discourse on Manipur is complete without a discussion on the activities of the various militant groups active in the state. They extort money from almost all sections of our people. It is no doubt easy to intimidate and scare people at gunpoint. But it is far more challenging to win over the hearts and minds of the people. Through this forum, I once again call upon all such groups to abjure violence and lay down their arms,` he said.

Lt Gen N K Singh (retd) chairman Ceasefire Monitoring Group, Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, GOC 3 Corps, Manipur, Maj Gen V S Sreenivas, Inspector General Assam Rifles, Brigadier Vinod T Mathew, Commander 9 Sector and Dr Thiyam Bharat Singh, Prof W Naba Kumar, Prof Amar Yumnam and Prof K Ibo from Manipur University were the other panelists.

While addressing the august audience, Lt Gen Bipin Rawat GOC 3 Corps called for all sections of the society to unite against the evil designs of anti-national elements during these testing times, so as to surge on the path of progress and create an enabling environment for Manipur to become the pivot in India`™s Act East vision.

Concluding the Seminar proceedings, Sh Gaikhangam, Dy CM, Manipur thanked and congratulated the IGAR(S) for organizing the seminar to deliberate on issues of vital concern for the State Govt as well as the cross-section of citizens of Manipur. He urged all stakeholders in the inclusive growth of Manipur to deliberate on the innovative and pragmatic views expressed during the seminar for a way forward for sustained peace and development of Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/chief-minister-calls-for-peace-during-seminar-on-emergent-manipur/