Day: November 6, 2015

IMPHAL, November 6: Congress is the real enemy of Manipur and not BJP as was alleged by Congress State president Gaikhangam, said Okram Joy replying to charges from the former of the BJP trying to distort the territorial boundary of Manipur.

Ex-MLA Langthabal Okram Joy was speaking at an election campaign for the BJP at Uchekon Takhok Mapan today.

He said Gaikhangam is the real enemy of the State as he was the second to sign the demand for the Naga-integration in 2005 which was submitted to the President of India.

The present government under the Congress, he said, is a company of corrupt MLAs who are looting the public money in the name of governance for the past 13 years.

Ever since Manipur’s merger into India, the Congress has only brought misery for the people and divided them into different groups, he alleged.

Soon after the merger, Manipur lost Kabow Valley under the Congress government in the Centre led by Nehru, he continued.

On August 4, 1972, when the MPP was in power in the State, the Congress under its then leader Hawaibam Nilamani had signed an agreement with the then United Naga Integration Council, the veteran politician said.

The agreement clearly stated that the Naga integration movement is not anti-State, anti-national, anti-party and not unconstitutional, he observed.

The same year as the signing of the agreement, the seed of distorting Manipur was sown by the UNIC led by Rishang Keishing then, Joy said.

On May 25, 2005, 13 Congress leaders including Gaikhangam had signed a memorandum which was submitted to the then President and Prime Minister of India, he said.

The memorandum, he said, included statements like “the leaders express deep appreciation to the government of India for acknowledging the unique history and situation of Nagas”.

“The memorandum also said that in the case of territorial integrity of the Naga areas, we believe it is a sincere quest and basic fundamental right of the Naga people to be under one political entity and live together. So we therefore fully support the aspiration of the Naga people for integration,” he said.

He continued, it is more than just the memorandum or the support of the MLAs or other leaders, but the involvement of stalwarts like Rishang Keishing which has hurt the sentiments of the people most.

He said the Nagaland Congress had in its manifesto published in 2008 promised that the party will work hard to achieve Naga integration of Nagaland and the Naga inhabited areas of other neighbouring States.

Joy said the people should be able to distinguish which political party is trying to distort the State.

He continued if the people of Thongju and Thangmeiband constituencies vote for the Congress, it will mean the people killing their own future.

There is a need for change and bring an end to the controversial reign of the Congress in the State, he said.

O Joy said the BJP likes a smooth and transparent government but the Congress is addicted to corruption.

Electing Bishwajit and Joykishan now will be the first step towards bringing a good government in Manipur, he added.

The campaign was also attended by BJP candidate Thongam Bishwajit, Dr RK Ranjan among others.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/congress-the-real-enemy-of-manipur-o-joy-replies-to-gaikhangams-charges/

IMPHAL, November 6: Whenever the BJP led NDA has come to power in the Centre, it has always targeted the territorial integrity of Manipur, Manipur deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam claimed at an election rally today.

The election campaign for Congress candidate of Thangmeiband Jyotin Waikhom was organised at the Nongda Leima Hall PLYO Club Thangmeiband.

Another campaign rally of the Congress for its candidate for Thongju Constituency Bijoy Koijam was also held at Uchekon Ta-khak Mapal community hall.

Gaikhangam said it was during the time of the NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee that the Centre signed the agreement with NSCN (IM) with the clause ‘without territorial limit’ in Amsterdam which led to the loss of 18 brave souls in the State.

Now, under another BJP led government led by Narendra Modi, the NSCN (IM) Peace Accord was signed on August 3, which is still shrouded in mystery as the Centreis yet to reveal the details, Gaikhangam said.

He said the bye-election in the two constituencies is very crucial for the people of the State.

The Congress has always stood for unity and integrity of Manipur, he claimed.

Electing the two BJP candidates could only mean darkness, he continued.

The bye-election will be a fight between the Congress and the BJP, he said.

The Congress has a 130 years political experience dating back into the period of freedom movement, he continued.

Gaikhangam charged the BJP of being a communal party who has always discriminated the minority and endorsed only the Hindu religion.

Although it endorses only Hinduism, the BJP leaders are unaware of the central thinking of the religion which is tolerance, he said.

The BJP has no philosophy of peaceful co-existence, he continued.

The BJP is not just anti-Chirstian or anti-Muslim, but it is also anti-Hindu because of their divisional policies, Gaikhangam claimed.

He further appealed to the State BJP leaders to pressurise the Central government to come out with the details of the NSCN (IM) Peace Accord, and said the leaders can tender their resignation from being members of the BJP Manipur if the framework agreement include anything which will hurt the State.

Speaking at the campaign at Uchekon Ta-khak Mapal community hall, Gaikhangam said except for the Congress, no other party can bring development or unity in the State.

He said the people have faith in the Congress and as such have been electing the Congress candidates.

The people realise the presence of the BJP only during the times of elections, when its leaders would come out for publicity, he said.

The BJP had joined hands with the Naga Peoples Front which is also trying to damage the peace and tranquillity of Manipur, he said.

Giving the mandate to the Congress will mean saving the territorial and emotional integrity of the State, he added.

Congress respect the people of the State and encourages the feeling of oneness, he said.

The party has always been strong due to the support of the people, he added.

He further appealed to the people to support the party candidates in the bye-election.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/bjp-has-always-targeted-states-integrity-dy-cm/

IMPHAL, November 6: Whenever the BJP led NDA has come to power in the Centre, it has always targeted the territorial integrity of Manipur, Manipur deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam claimed at an election rally today.

The election campaign for Congress candidate of Thangmeiband Jyotin Waikhom was organised at the Nongda Leima Hall PLYO Club Thangmeiband.

Another campaign rally of the Congress for its candidate for Thongju Constituency Bijoy Koijam was also held at Uchekon Ta-khak Mapal community hall.

Gaikhangam said it was during the time of the NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee that the Centre signed the agreement with NSCN (IM) with the clause ‘without territorial limit’ in Amsterdam which led to the loss of 18 brave souls in the State.

Now, under another BJP led government led by Narendra Modi, the NSCN (IM) Peace Accord was signed on August 3, which is still shrouded in mystery as the Centreis yet to reveal the details, Gaikhangam said.

He said the bye-election in the two constituencies is very crucial for the people of the State.

The Congress has always stood for unity and integrity of Manipur, he claimed.

Electing the two BJP candidates could only mean darkness, he continued.

The bye-election will be a fight between the Congress and the BJP, he said.

The Congress has a 130 years political experience dating back into the period of freedom movement, he continued.

Gaikhangam charged the BJP of being a communal party who has always discriminated the minority and endorsed only the Hindu religion.

Although it endorses only Hinduism, the BJP leaders are unaware of the central thinking of the religion which is tolerance, he said.

The BJP has no philosophy of peaceful co-existence, he continued.

The BJP is not just anti-Chirstian or anti-Muslim, but it is also anti-Hindu because of their divisional policies, Gaikhangam claimed.

He further appealed to the State BJP leaders to pressurise the Central government to come out with the details of the NSCN (IM) Peace Accord, and said the leaders can tender their resignation from being members of the BJP Manipur if the framework agreement include anything which will hurt the State.

Speaking at the campaign at Uchekon Ta-khak Mapal community hall, Gaikhangam said except for the Congress, no other party can bring development or unity in the State.

He said the people have faith in the Congress and as such have been electing the Congress candidates.

The people realise the presence of the BJP only during the times of elections, when its leaders would come out for publicity, he said.

The BJP had joined hands with the Naga Peoples Front which is also trying to damage the peace and tranquillity of Manipur, he said.

Giving the mandate to the Congress will mean saving the territorial and emotional integrity of the State, he added.

Congress respect the people of the State and encourages the feeling of oneness, he said.

The party has always been strong due to the support of the people, he added.

He further appealed to the people to support the party candidates in the bye-election.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/bjp-has-always-targeted-states-integrity-dy-cm/

IMPHAL, November 6: The hearing of a petition filed in the High Court of Manipur pleading to fill the vacant posts of Inspector of Police in Manipur Police department by the Sub-Inspectors of Police (Male/Civil) who deserved the promotion by holding DPC in Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) as per the Service Rules/Recruitment Rules of the department, has been deferred once again.

As scheduled, the hearing of the case filed in the court in last part of 2014 was held today in the court of a Single Bench of Justice N Koteshwar.

After counsels representing MPSC and principal secretary (Home) who are amongst the respondents pleaded the court to give some time to provide reasons on not holding DPC for granting promotion to the SIs to Inspectors so far, the court fixed the next hearing on December 4.

It may be mentioned that there are 64 vacant posts of Inspector in the Police Department up to October 2014.

Inspector General of Police (Adm) had submitted a statement to principal secretary (Home) informing that another seven posts have been created with some Inspectors taking superannuation retirement and some passing away up to May 6, 2015.

Even as the court gave direction to hold the DPC for promotion within two months after the Chairman post of MPSC is filled, the DPC is yet to take place. The court direction came after SIs who deserved promotion to Inspector knocked the doors of the court.

Notably, the DPC is being postponed repeatedly without giving any concrete reasons despite MPSC fixing to hold it on four occasions on September 2, 12, 19 and October 9 as per the court direction.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/case-hearing-for-promotion-of-sub-inspectors-deferred-again/

IMPHAL, November 6: The hearing of a petition filed in the High Court of Manipur pleading to fill the vacant posts of Inspector of Police in Manipur Police department by the Sub-Inspectors of Police (Male/Civil) who deserved the promotion by holding DPC in Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) as per the Service Rules/Recruitment Rules of the department, has been deferred once again.

As scheduled, the hearing of the case filed in the court in last part of 2014 was held today in the court of a Single Bench of Justice N Koteshwar.

After counsels representing MPSC and principal secretary (Home) who are amongst the respondents pleaded the court to give some time to provide reasons on not holding DPC for granting promotion to the SIs to Inspectors so far, the court fixed the next hearing on December 4.

It may be mentioned that there are 64 vacant posts of Inspector in the Police Department up to October 2014.

Inspector General of Police (Adm) had submitted a statement to principal secretary (Home) informing that another seven posts have been created with some Inspectors taking superannuation retirement and some passing away up to May 6, 2015.

Even as the court gave direction to hold the DPC for promotion within two months after the Chairman post of MPSC is filled, the DPC is yet to take place. The court direction came after SIs who deserved promotion to Inspector knocked the doors of the court.

Notably, the DPC is being postponed repeatedly without giving any concrete reasons despite MPSC fixing to hold it on four occasions on September 2, 12, 19 and October 9 as per the court direction.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/case-hearing-for-promotion-of-sub-inspectors-deferred-again/

IMPHAL, November 6: Fuming over non-payment of nine-month salary for 97 contractual staff under the State government, All Manipur Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) Works Welfare Union locked the offices of Manipur State TB Cell, and Imphal West District TB Centre, Lamphelpat today evening.

The contractual staffs under the union had launched non-cooperation movement by staying off from their works in Intermediate Reference Laboratory (IRL) in the nine districts and State TB Cell from November 4.

The non-cooperation movement was launched by the contractual staff in protest against the deprivation of the revised scale of 2015-16 under National Rural Health Mission, Government of India.

According to general secretary of the union, contractual staffs of RNTCP have been deprived of monthly salary for the last few years. The staffs have been getting salary for four-five months in a year unlike staffs of other departments.

The inconsistency in providing salary to the staffs is due to the utter failure of the Programme Officers and concerned high officials to discharge their duties accordingly, the general secretary pointed out.

He lamented that the staffs used to face similar situation when they are put under Central TB Division.

The RNTCP was merged together with vertical health programmes in Manipur and State Rural Health Mission Society with the assurance from the Central Government that all of them will be treated equally under a common mission.

After the merger and end of the extension of the contractual staffs for the year 2014-15, order for extension of the staffs for 2015-16 was issued only on October 20 last after seven months from the normal month of March, he rued.

The general secretary of the union also mentioned that it is due to the long time taken in the file process by the concerned officials that they have been disheartened besides depriving them monthly salary for nine months.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/state-tb-cell-iw-dist-tb-centre-locked-over-nonpayment-of-salary/

IMPHAL, November 6: Fuming over non-payment of nine-month salary for 97 contractual staff under the State government, All Manipur Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) Works Welfare Union locked the offices of Manipur State TB Cell, and Imphal West District TB Centre, Lamphelpat today evening.

The contractual staffs under the union had launched non-cooperation movement by staying off from their works in Intermediate Reference Laboratory (IRL) in the nine districts and State TB Cell from November 4.

The non-cooperation movement was launched by the contractual staff in protest against the deprivation of the revised scale of 2015-16 under National Rural Health Mission, Government of India.

According to general secretary of the union, contractual staffs of RNTCP have been deprived of monthly salary for the last few years. The staffs have been getting salary for four-five months in a year unlike staffs of other departments.

The inconsistency in providing salary to the staffs is due to the utter failure of the Programme Officers and concerned high officials to discharge their duties accordingly, the general secretary pointed out.

He lamented that the staffs used to face similar situation when they are put under Central TB Division.

The RNTCP was merged together with vertical health programmes in Manipur and State Rural Health Mission Society with the assurance from the Central Government that all of them will be treated equally under a common mission.

After the merger and end of the extension of the contractual staffs for the year 2014-15, order for extension of the staffs for 2015-16 was issued only on October 20 last after seven months from the normal month of March, he rued.

The general secretary of the union also mentioned that it is due to the long time taken in the file process by the concerned officials that they have been disheartened besides depriving them monthly salary for nine months.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/state-tb-cell-iw-dist-tb-centre-locked-over-nonpayment-of-salary/

IMPHAL, November 6: On the 15th anniversary of Irom Sharmila’s hunger strike, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), an organization of the jurist across the world based in Geneva has called on the Indian government to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act without further delay.

“The AFSPA has facilitated gross human rights violations by the armed forces in the areas in which it is operational. It is a repressive and draconian law that should have no place in today’s India,” Sam Zarifi, Asia-Pacific Director of the ICJ said in a press release.

“The AFSPA has created a culture of impunity, shielding security forces from accountability in India for crimes under international law, and making it impossible for victims of human rights violations to access justice”, Sam Zarifi said.

The Indian government has often justified the need for the AFSPA as necessary to address terrorism and militancy in “disturbed areas”. “International law requires and experience shows that effective counter- terrorism measures must reinforce human rights, and not undermine and violate them,” said Sam Zarifi.

Several UN human rights bodies have recommended that the AFSPA be repealed or significantly amended. These include the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (2014), the Special Rapporteur on violence against women (2014), the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (in 2013 and again in 2015), the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders (2012), the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (2007), and the UN Human Rights Committee (1997), the release said.

In recent years, prominent Indian bodies have recognized the brutality of the AFSPA and echoed demands for repeal or amendment. The Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee set up by the Government of India to review the working of the AFSPA, has advocated its repeal. The Fifth Report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission seconded this recommendation, it said.

The release mentioned that in 2012, the Extra Judicial Execution Victims Family Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) filed a petition at the Supreme Court of India, alleging that between 1979 and 2012, 1528 people were extra-judicially executed by security forces in Manipur.

A court-appointed fact-finding commission – popularly known as the Santosh Hegde Commission – studied 6 of these cases, and found that the deaths were not lawful.

In its report, the Hegde Commission agreed with the observation of the Jeevan Reddy Commission, that the AFSPA had become “a symbol of oppression, an object of hate, and an instrument of discrimination and high-handedness.”

The case is still pending in the Supreme Court, added the release.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/icj-joins-call-for-afspa-repeal-from-state/

IMPHAL, November 6: On the 15th anniversary of Irom Sharmila’s hunger strike, the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), an organization of the jurist across the world based in Geneva has called on the Indian government to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act without further delay.

“The AFSPA has facilitated gross human rights violations by the armed forces in the areas in which it is operational. It is a repressive and draconian law that should have no place in today’s India,” Sam Zarifi, Asia-Pacific Director of the ICJ said in a press release.

“The AFSPA has created a culture of impunity, shielding security forces from accountability in India for crimes under international law, and making it impossible for victims of human rights violations to access justice”, Sam Zarifi said.

The Indian government has often justified the need for the AFSPA as necessary to address terrorism and militancy in “disturbed areas”. “International law requires and experience shows that effective counter- terrorism measures must reinforce human rights, and not undermine and violate them,” said Sam Zarifi.

Several UN human rights bodies have recommended that the AFSPA be repealed or significantly amended. These include the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (2014), the Special Rapporteur on violence against women (2014), the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions (in 2013 and again in 2015), the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders (2012), the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (2007), and the UN Human Rights Committee (1997), the release said.

In recent years, prominent Indian bodies have recognized the brutality of the AFSPA and echoed demands for repeal or amendment. The Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee set up by the Government of India to review the working of the AFSPA, has advocated its repeal. The Fifth Report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commission seconded this recommendation, it said.

The release mentioned that in 2012, the Extra Judicial Execution Victims Family Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) filed a petition at the Supreme Court of India, alleging that between 1979 and 2012, 1528 people were extra-judicially executed by security forces in Manipur.

A court-appointed fact-finding commission – popularly known as the Santosh Hegde Commission – studied 6 of these cases, and found that the deaths were not lawful.

In its report, the Hegde Commission agreed with the observation of the Jeevan Reddy Commission, that the AFSPA had become “a symbol of oppression, an object of hate, and an instrument of discrimination and high-handedness.”

The case is still pending in the Supreme Court, added the release.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/icj-joins-call-for-afspa-repeal-from-state/