Manipur News

IMPHAL, September 23: BJP Manipur Pradesh president Th Chaoba has today warned of filing a defamation law suit of Rs 50 crores against The Statesman, its special correspondent Yambem Laba, and the local daily Hueiyen Lanpao for a report charging him of being involved in the present under investigation RIMS graft case.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s office, Chaoba said the report published in the said newspapers stating that former RIMS director Dr Sekharjit’s wife had written to the president of the BJP State unit to refund Rs. 1 crore paid earlier to forestall the CBI raids is baseless and a challenge to his 50 years long political career.

Hinting that this whole issue could have been the handiwork of the party’s dissident group in New Delhi, Chaoba said if his involvement can be proved, he is ready to spend his remaining life in prison.

He said he has never done anything to stain his image even though he has been a minister in the State as well as in the Union government.

Denying any charges of his involvement in the graft case, Chaoba said he is not even closely acquainted with Dr Sekharjit or his wife Dr Damyanti.

The allegation is a challenge to his image, he said before declaring that he will not remain silent while others continue to throw dirt at him.

He said defamation notice have been already sent to The Statesmen, its special correspondent Yambem Laba and Huiyen Lanpao.

They have 24 hours to tender their apology publicly, or prove his involvement with evidence as reported within seven days he said.

An if they fail to prove any involvement or tender the public apology, a Rs 50 crore defamation suit for polluting 50 years of political career will be filed against the three, he said.

Such baseless reports could greatly harm the party ahead of the Hiyanglam by-poll, he said.

Chaoba said the matter has already been informed to the central committee of the party and several political leaders of the NDA have been urged to expedite the CBI investigation in the RIMS case.

The recent raid at over nine different places simultaneously by 33 special sleuths of the CBI is unprecedented in the state, and the BJP wants the Centre to expedite the process at the earliest and book all those involved in the case, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/state-bjp-chief-threatens-statesman-hueiyen-with-rs-50-crore-lawsuit/

IMPHAL, September 23: The expulsion of three primary members of the BJP State unit is uncalled for, expressed national executive member of the BJYM Ch Chidananda who is also in-charge of Nagaland today.

Speaking to media persons at the Manipur Press Club, Chidananda said the three had received show cause notices from the BJP State president and had replied to it.

However, on September 11, it was reported in local papers that the three senior members were expelled on September 6 following a decision taken during an executive meeting, he said.

It is also learnt that the expulsion was officiated after some dissident BJP State leaders had expressed gratitude to the Union Health Minister Harshavardhan for the CBI raids at the residence of the former RIMS director Sekharjit, he said.

Questioning the BJP State president’s relation with the ousted director, he asked why the president has decided to remain silent even now on the expulsion of the three members.

He said the three are not part of the dissident group who had met the Union Health Minister.

It seems like the president wants to assert his power on softer targets as he cannot deal with the others, he said.

An ex-minister and an ex-vice president of the party T Hangkhanpao said he was the general secretary of JD(U) but joined BJP in March 2014.

He said he was made the vice president of the BJP and had worked really hard for the party, but all of a sudden in September, he was served a show cause notice.

After the news was reported in the newspapers, his career has been hurt, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/dissidence-erupts-in-state-bjp-over-members-expulsions/

IMPHAL, September 23: The all political parties committee on implementation of Inner Line Permit System in the State will help bring a logical conclusion on the issue very soon, said deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.

Interacting with the media in his office chamber this evening, Gaikhangam said that the committee has studied the issue and the term of reference is very limited. The committee has collected opinions of experts on enacting a law to safeguard the indigenous peoples of the State.

Gaikhangam maintained that yesterday, opinions of the JCILPS leaders were also sought, while those of the High Court Bar Association, All Manipur Bar Association, MU scholars and college teachers were heard. The committee will study through the opinions given by the experts.

Gaikhangam, however, said that the news report of stalemate between the committee and JCILPS is unfortunate, and will hamper the smooth process of the talk, which could even mislead the public.

He continued that the committee has no authority to talk on behalf of the government. The role of the committee is to find ways for positive mechanism to implement or enact a law regarding ILP in the State.

Gaikhngam clarified that the documents submitted by the expert were not issued to the JCILPS leaders because the examination is not yet over.

He added that the committee has decided to sit for a meeting on the matter at around 2 pm on September 27, 2014. And on the same day experts from the economics and statistics department of the government will also be called to attend. He said there are plans to send the experts to States like Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim for consultations.

Gaikhangam appealed the JCILPS activists not to take law in their own hands, or assault migrant labourers. The State flying squad will do their duties to check the migrants, Gaikhangam added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/all-political-parties-committee-to-bring-logical-conclusion-to-ilps-issue-gaikhangam/