Day: July 21, 2017

Newmai News Network

SENAPATI | July 21

Much to the disappointment of the United Naga Council (UNC), the tripartite talks on the district creation have been postponed, again. The talks involving the United Naga Council (UNC), the Central Government and the State Government of Manipur were scheduled to be held on July 22 (Saturday) in Senapati district headquarters at the ‘political level’ but the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has “fervently requested” the UNC leaders to have the talks early next month.

Speaking to Newmai News Network this evening over phone, Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA),Government of India said that the State Government of Manipur had “requested” the former if the date of the talks could be scheduled for July 23 (Sunday) instead of July 22.

According to Satyendra Garg, the State Government of Manipur had expressed that its cabinet ministers who are assigned to take part in the tripartite talks would not be able to skip the ongoing session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly on Saturday. To this, the UNC had agreed even to hold the talks even on Sunday but the proposal of the State Government of Manipur gives inconveniences to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials participating in the tripartite talks. According to the MHA Joint Secretary, the Union Home Minister is taking part in the Question Hour of the ongoing Parliament Session on July 24, Monday, for which it has become a matter of compulsion that all the MHA officials are stationed from Sunday.

Now, things have come to such a situation that the next tripartite talks have been tentatively scheduled either on August 5 or August 11, according to Satyendra Garg.  He also said that the Government of India “takes seriously” on the tripartite talks, and “I hope things should be alright for everyone in the early part of next month.”

It can be noted here that the tripartite talks on district creation issue which were scheduled earlier for July 10 at Ukhrul district headquarters were postponed, and the talks were latter fixed for July 22 with Senapati district headquarters as the venue. Apparently reacting to the prolonging of the tripartite talks the UNC has expressed its frustration today again.

UNC president Gaidon Kamei reiterated that Naga people in Manipur “to remain alert to face any eventuality”. Earlier, the UNC had alleged  that a party engaging in the tripartite talks was intentionally trying to sabotage the ongoing dialogue on district creation issue.

On May 19, the representatives of the Manipur Government, the Central Government and the UNC had agreed upon to hold tripartite talks on the district creation issue at the political level within a month’s time. The one month’s time frame to hold tripartite talks on the district creation issue had lapsed on June 19.

UNC had also stated earlier that “since the new government of Manipur under the leadership of N Biren Singh and the Narendra Modi government at the Centre had assured us to redress the problems created by the communal Ibobi Singh government we are fervently waiting for the justice.”

Things may be recalled here that, in the last tripartite talks held on May 19 in Senapati headquarters, it was reaffirmed the “focal point No 1 of agreement arrived at in the tripartite talks on March 19, 2017” which states that “the grievances of the United Naga Council which led to the imposition of the economic blockade by them was recognized as there was non-adherence to the four Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Government of India’s assurance on the matter. The Government of Manipur agrees to start consultation with all stakeholders to redress the same”.

IMPHAL | July 21

The art and culture minister L. Jayantakumar Singh said that Manipur State Film and Television Institute (MSFTI) plans to start a PG diploma course in documentary from October, with a budget provision of Rs. 1.5 crore for the fiscal year 2017-18. This was stated while replying to a question raised by MLA, Khangabok A/C Surjakumar Okram during question hours, in the second day of the second session of the Eleventh Manipur Legislative Assembly, today.

The minister further informed the House that the courses offered in the Manipur University of Culture are graduate course in dance, music, sankritana, umang lai haraoba, thang-ta, theatre, tribal studies and visual art with a budget of Rs. 1.5 crore for the fiscal year 2017-18.

On the reason for the delay in the functioning of the Manipur State Film & Television Institute, the minister replied that the recruitment of faculty and staffs of the institute will be taken up. In the absence of faculty members, support staffs, academic infrastructure and acquisition of equipment, academic programs cannot commence.

In another question raised by MLA, Wangkhei A/C, Okram Henry Singh on the present status of the Cabinet decision taken by the previous government to rename the Imphal International airport, the chief minister N. Biren, who is also holding the portfolio of transport, informed the House that the state Cabinet took decision in its meeting held on September 21 last year to rename the Imphal International Airport and decided to recommend to the ministry of civil aviation for necessary action in the interest of the people of Manipur.

The Centre has released a total amount of Rs. 739.44 lakh for National Food Security Mission for the year 2016-17 for the state of Manipur for nine districts including Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Chandel, Churachandpur, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul. The beneficiaries were selected through the extension functionaries of the respective districts. This was informed by agriculture minister V. Hangkhanlian to the query raised by MLA, Lilong A/C Md. Abdul Nasir.

IMPHAL | July 21

Chief minister N. Biren Singh replying to a starred question from Opposition member Kh. Joykishan said that there are no authorized camps of the NSCN (IM) in the state. He, however, acknowledged that there are activities of the Naga group and suo-motto case has been registered regarding the killing of two civilians at Kharasom on June 15 last.

Joykishan insisted that it is common knowledge that NSCN (IM) camps exist in Manipur and whether those who are related to the murder of the mentioned two persons have been arrested.

Biren said the NSCN (IM) have mobile offices and the cadres disappear in the vast jungle expanses after committing a crime. There is no question of extension of the NSCN (IM) ceasefire in Manipur, he added.

Unanimous stand on amending Constitution to protect state boundary

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL July 21

Manipur Assembly today unanimously reaffirmed a resolution adopted in 2015 by the House to urge the Centre to amend the Article 3 of the Constitution to safeguard Manipur’s boundary.

“This House unanimously resolves to reiterate the Resolution No. 117 passed by this Hosue on 31 st August, 2015 for amendment of Article 3 of the Constitution of India by incorporating that the prior consent of the state legislature of the affected state(s) shall be mandatorily obtained while forming new state and alteration of areas, boundaries or names of existing states,” the resolution said.

The Speaker Yumnam Khemchand adjourned the afternoon session of the Assembly for half an hour to give time to both the ruling and Opposition members to draft the resolution together, as proposed by leader of the Opposition O. Ibobi Singh.

On August 31, 2015 the Assembly adopted a resolution seeking amendment of the Constititon. The resolution was moved by the former chief minister Ibobi. The government moved the resolution after the Centre and the NSCN (IM) had signed the Framework Agreement on August 3 in the same year.

The members agreed to adopt a House resolution after Ibobi Singh intervened into a debate on what kind of resolution should be adopted during a discussion of a private member resolution seeking amendment of the Article 3 of the Constitution.

The private member bill was moved by Congress members Kh. Joykishan, K. Ranjit, Surajkumar Okram, N. Loken Singh and K. Govindas.

When the movers pressed for passing the bill leader of the House and chief minister N. Biren Singh proposed to pass a resolution moved by the government, saying it would have more significance.

As Joykishan was adamant that the bill should be passed Ibobi Singh intervened, suggesting that instead of passing a private member bill, it should be a House resolution, as suggested by Biren. He also proposed an adjournment of some minutes for drafting the resolution together by the Opposition and ruling.

Earlier during the discussion on the private member bill deputy chief minister Yumnam Joykumar Singh insisted that the resolution moved by the Opposition members that reads “provided that in the case of Manipur, the Bill for this purpose shall be introduced in either House of Parliament except on the recommendation of President made on the unanimous decision of the Manipur Legislative Assembly,” is not agreeable with him and certain wordings in the resolution need to be changed.

“I cannot betray the people of Manipur and I cannot agree with this,” Joykumar remarked, adding it was in the larger interest of safeguarding the state boundary. “If the resolution is to be put up, it should not be faulty, he said.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 21

Principal secretary education (s), Vineet Joshi, reacting to a recent report of transfers of 447 higher secondary teachers, clarified that the transfers were carried out in the interest of the students.

Briefing media persons in this regards at SSA office Babupara, Vineet Joshi, disclosed that the transfers of teachers wer imminent for they (transferred teachers) were graduate teachers who have been promoted to lecturers.

If the transfer process was not affected the teachers would be deprived of their salaries, said Vineet Joshi.

“The teachers themselves have been asking the department for their transfer to ensure that the payment of their salary is not hampered”, said Joshi.

Further explaining on the criteria, he stated that the transfer was affected after having done proper assessment based on the students strength and vacancy of the schools.

There could be an attachment between teachers and students but the department has to take into consideration the general interest as a whole, he contended.

“Everything we have done is in the best interest of the students”, said the principal secretary before assuring to look into the demand of the students.

education (s) director, Th. Kirankumar, deputy secretary, L. Nandakumar and officials of the education department also attended the press conference.