Manipur News

IMPHAL, November 10: Senior journalist Yambem Laba and the newspapers, The Statesman and Huieyen Lanpao, have been ordered to submit written replies within November 20 by a court, State BJP president Thounaojam Chaoba said at a press meet in the party office at Nityaipat Chuthek held in connection with the enrolment of new members this morning.

This much publicised defamation case related to a hard hitting news published in these newspaper that the BJP State president was implicated in the sensational corruption case of former RIMS director, Dr. S Sekharjit, now under CBI investigation.

The news reports had alleged that among the documents found by the sleuths was a note by the ousted director to BJP president asking him to return Rs. 1 crore paid to him by the former for assurance that the CBI would be kept away from investigating the RIMS affairs.

Chaoba vehemently denied the veracity of the report and warned the defendants to apologise publicly for the defamation caused to his reputation as a political veteran built over the last 50 years.

When this was not complied, he threatened to sue the parties for Rs. 50 crore each, and finally did when there still was no compliance.

The court will fix the date of hearing after November 20, he added.

Meanwhile, the BJP leader gave the nod for the induction of new members such as Phijam Pakchao who represented the CPI in the last assembly elections, Potsangbam Gram Panchayat pradhan Meisnam Mangi Singh, Awang Wabagai GP ward member Okram Ibungobi, Potsangbam GP ward member Khundongbam Dhiren Singh and Mayengbam (O) Purnima Devi, also a ward member of the same GP.

This was done as a part of the nationwide drive initiated by the BJP to enrol new members that started yesterday. The State BJP is setting a target of enrolling at least one lakh members in the State with 50 members from every polling station along with five active members.

The State BJP will organise a conference at every assembly constituency. The newly enrolled former CPI candidate Pakchao along with his colleagues can contribute to the Lamshang BJP Mandal, Chaoba said.

“The aim of the BJP is to root out corruption by the Congress government. Funds which are meant for job card holders under the MGNREGA have not been issued for 100 days but misappropriated by the ministers. The BJP will organise a meeting with Pradhans and ward members on this issue,” he stressed.

Speaking at the press meet, Pakchao said local MLAs in the last 15 years haven`t taken up any substantial developmental works in his Kendra which have led to people urging him to fight the elections with the support of a big political party like the BJP.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/court-asks-yambem-laba-and-two-newspapers-to-send-written-replies-in-defamation-case-says-chaoba/

IMPHAL, November 10: “Development of the State should include every citizen. There cannot be development for a particular community or individual”, said Oinam Rajen, secretary, All Loktak Lake Areas Fisherman Union at the one day convention held at the Manipur Press Club here today.

The convention was organised by Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur on “Climate Change, False Solution and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in Manipur.

While delivering the keynote address at the convention, Jiten Yumnam, secretary, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur said that the consultation was organised in the context of deepening climate crisis amidst aggressive introduction of large scale development projects in Manipur.

The industrial zones and other development such as mega dams, oil exploration, and large infrastructure projects such as road and railway which involve either submergence or destruction of forest and water will ultimately contribute in climate crisis in Manipur, he added.

During the convention the participants discussed the ongoing aggressive push by the government to promote false solution to climate crisis such as reducing emission and forest degradation and deforestation.

The resolution taken during the convention were concern with worsening climate in Manipur, frequent floods, droughts, species loss etc and impact on the indigenous people’s cultures, tradition and their survival.

The meet also expressed concern over the government of Manipur’s MOUs with corporate bodies for mega dams and to drill oil and gas in Manipur. The colossal forest area submergence of these mega dams, including 27,000 hectares, by the planned 1500 MW Tipaimukh dam will aggravate climate crisis, it maintained.

It further took serious note on the increased agriculture land grabbing by mega projects such as the Film Institute, Sports University, Trans Asian Highway and Railway. Loss of agriculture land will deepen climate crisis and undermine food sovereignty of Manipur, it observed.

The meet also pointed out that increased investment of International Financial Institutions namely Asian Development Bank for mega infrastructure projects such as Imphal Town Ring Road without detailed impact assessment, option assessment and consent of communities is deplorable.

It demanded that all MOUs on mega dams should be revoked and policies that facilitate such projects, namely the Manipur Hydro Power Policy, 2012 and Manipur State Action Plan on Climate Change should be repealed.

The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation should cease all efforts to seek carbon credits and additional profits from the Clean Development Mechanism by classifying the controversial 105 MW Loktak Project in Manipur as clean and renewable energy project, it maintained.

The meet also demanded that the process of tackling global climate has unfortunately been considered as an opportunity for economic benefits. Climate crisis cannot be resolved within the framework of “market solutions” and the State should abandon all false solution to climate change that negates Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

The function was also attended by Phulindro Konsam, chairman, Committee on Human Rights and Dr RK Ranjan, senior environmentalist.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/cra-deplores-states-false-solution-on-climate-change/