IMPHAL, Nov 11: The Congress rebel camp in New Delhi, campaigning for the ouster of chief minister Okram Ibobi, is upbeat, after Y Erabot and Phungzathang, both cabinet ministers, who had returned to Imphal for a while, flew back in to rejoin them.
The total number of Congress MLAs camping in New Delhi has thereafter risen to 16, bringing up their total strength (including Allauddin, Gaikhangam and Debendra who are still in Imphal) to 19.
The rebels called on Ahmed Patel, secretary to the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, to appraise him of the “misdeeds” of Ibobi, including among others, sidelining the party and its interests in promoting his own individual interest, the spokesman for the dissident group, Y Surchandra told IFP from New Delhi late this evening.
Surchandra, said they expect the AICC to respond to the Manipur situation immediately after the ongoing AICC general session concludes on November 17.
He said from the indications so far, there is no reason why they would not be successful in bringing about a regime change in the state soon.
By democratic norms alone, Ibobi has no chance for if the Speaker were to be excluded, at this very moment he may not even manage 11 signatures in his support, he added.
If Ibobi was confident of his support base, he would have done exactly this by now and put up his own case with the AICC, Surchandra said, adding, the chief minister will not dare to take up the challenge for he has no support left within the Congress legislative party, CLP.
The Congress commands an absolute majority of 31 in the 60-strong Manipur Legislative Assembly and if the dissidents were to be believed, they have 19 MLAs, leaving the chief minister with a maximum of 12. They believe Ibobi will not be able to hold even this 12.
In the meantime, keeping up their attack on Ibobi’s record as chief minister, the dissident MLAs have issued another press release highlighting his failures on the development front.
The press statement, issued by Y Surchandra, charged that despite the initiatives taken by the UPA Government at the Centre for the development of the North Eastern States, and the sanctioning of many development projects particularly for Manipur, there has no visible impact in the state.
The Rural Health Mission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, mission for urban development like JNNURM and various programmes for rural development in Manipur have become either a total failure or a non-starter because of mishandling and misrule by the Ibobi Singh-led government, the dissidents charged.
‘There is no sign of administration not only in the hills and remote areas but also even in the Capital City Imphal’, it maintained.
Of the many development packages sanctioned by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Sngh during his Manipur visit in the year 2004, the much awaited and ambitious Capital Project remains a total non-starter. The ambitious Bir Tikendrajit Flyover has been under construction for over 5 years and is yet to be completed. The construction of three major markets at Imphal is yet to take off inspite of the fact that they were sanctioned three years ago, it said.
The state’s portion of NH-39 is in such pathetic condition inspite of the fact that so much money have been pumped in. The muddy streets and clogs drains in and around the state’s capital city Imphal indicates the prevailing condition in far flung areas, it said.
There is no sign of completion of the Khuga, Thoubal and Dolaithabi hydel projects within the government’s projected dateline, it said.
Continuing its tirade against the CM, the statement said the administration under Ibobi is centralized and there is no transparency. His government has no vision and mission. Inspite of the fact that he has been chief minister continuously for six years, no vision document for development of the state could be placed before the people. There is no direction and commitment. People are in the dark, it said.
It also noted that for the 2007-08 Annual Plan of Manipur, the Planning Commission approved an outlay of Rs. 1374.31 crore and the revised outlay was Rs. 1420.14 crore. As on 1st October 2007, only about Rs. 132 crore was spent which is less than 10%. The progress of expenditure in key sectors like Rural Development, minor irrigation, roads and bridges, public works (PAB) and education are less than 5%. Is it paving the way for rush of expenRevolt a family affair, says Ibobi Singh diture at the fag end of the year and for misutilisation of fund without works being done, it asked?
Source: http://ifp.co.in/FullStory.asp?NewsID=1172
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Ibobi says revolt a family affair
IMPHAL, Nov 11: Putting up a brave front in the face of the revolt against him by a sizeable section of Congress MLAs, chief minister O Ibobi Singh undertook a day-long tour of various development projects being taken up in and around the state capital today.
The chief minister, speaking to a group of mediapersons who accompanied him on the tour, dismissed the dissident activity against him as a family squabble. He also maintained he has not given much thought to the possible collapse of his government. ‘I am more interested in development work’, he said.
At the same time, the chief minister again challenged the dissidents to prove the charges they have raised again him, particularly with regard to his involvement in corruption. ‘If they produce credible proof, I’m ready to resign from chief ministership at once,’ Ibobi reiterated, denying categorically that he had taken bribes in transfer and posting of officials or in distribution of ministerial portfolios.
The chief minister also said an inquiry is in progress against those MLAs from whose quarters the state police had arrested underground activists in multiple raids conducted since a few months, and reiterated that his government has decided to take legal action against MLAs, ministers and other VIPs who harbour militants.
The chief minister also remarked that the law and order situation could be checked if such frequent raids are conducted, including in various government departments.
It may be mentioned, most of the MLAs from whose quarters underground cadres wre arrested are now in the dissident camp.
The chief minister also said the state government is not facing financial problems, and there are adequate funds for the various projects that have been taken up. He added that payment of bills to contractors was being held up only due to the requirement of advance payment of salaries for government employees ahead of the Ningol Chakouba.
During his tour today, the chief minister visited the Capitol Project site at Chingmeirong, where he inspected work on the proposed secretariat office building, and on the new High Court complex at Mantripukhri. The CM also went up to Koirengei to inspect development work on the NH-39 being taken up under the PWD.
While visiting the site where the new Lamlong bridge is being constructed at a cost of Rs.4 crores, the chief minister observed that the approach roads to the bridge would have to be widened, which would necessitate removal of some small shops currently occupying the roadside.
At the Khuman Lampak sports complex, the CM visited the site where a new multipurpose indoor stadium is being built, and made clear his dissatisfaction with the quality of the work. At the complex, he also visited the hockey stadium, the rowing canal, and the swimming pool.
Ibobi also visited some of the sites at Lamphelpat where the sewerage project is being taken up, in addition to inspecting ongoing work on the Keisamthong bridge, and also the condition of the bridges at Heirangoithong and Singjamei.
The chief minister was accompanied by information minister, TN Haokip, works minister, K Ranjit, IFCD minister, N Biren and MLAs Kh Loken and T Mangibabu during the tour.
Source: http://ifp.co.in/FullStory.asp?NewsID=1171
The total number of Congress MLAs camping in New Delhi has thereafter risen to 16, bringing up their total strength (including Allauddin, Gaikhangam and Debendra who are still in Imphal) to 19.
The rebels called on Ahmed Patel, secretary to the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, to appraise him of the “misdeeds” of Ibobi, including among others, sidelining the party and its interests in promoting his own individual interest, the spokesman for the dissident group, Y Surchandra told IFP from New Delhi late this evening.
Surchandra, said they expect the AICC to respond to the Manipur situation immediately after the ongoing AICC general session concludes on November 17.
He said from the indications so far, there is no reason why they would not be successful in bringing about a regime change in the state soon.
By democratic norms alone, Ibobi has no chance for if the Speaker were to be excluded, at this very moment he may not even manage 11 signatures in his support, he added.
If Ibobi was confident of his support base, he would have done exactly this by now and put up his own case with the AICC, Surchandra said, adding, the chief minister will not dare to take up the challenge for he has no support left within the Congress legislative party, CLP.
The Congress commands an absolute majority of 31 in the 60-strong Manipur Legislative Assembly and if the dissidents were to be believed, they have 19 MLAs, leaving the chief minister with a maximum of 12. They believe Ibobi will not be able to hold even this 12.
In the meantime, keeping up their attack on Ibobi’s record as chief minister, the dissident MLAs have issued another press release highlighting his failures on the development front.
The press statement, issued by Y Surchandra, charged that despite the initiatives taken by the UPA Government at the Centre for the development of the North Eastern States, and the sanctioning of many development projects particularly for Manipur, there has no visible impact in the state.
The Rural Health Mission, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, mission for urban development like JNNURM and various programmes for rural development in Manipur have become either a total failure or a non-starter because of mishandling and misrule by the Ibobi Singh-led government, the dissidents charged.
‘There is no sign of administration not only in the hills and remote areas but also even in the Capital City Imphal’, it maintained.
Of the many development packages sanctioned by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Sngh during his Manipur visit in the year 2004, the much awaited and ambitious Capital Project remains a total non-starter. The ambitious Bir Tikendrajit Flyover has been under construction for over 5 years and is yet to be completed. The construction of three major markets at Imphal is yet to take off inspite of the fact that they were sanctioned three years ago, it said.
The state’s portion of NH-39 is in such pathetic condition inspite of the fact that so much money have been pumped in. The muddy streets and clogs drains in and around the state’s capital city Imphal indicates the prevailing condition in far flung areas, it said.
There is no sign of completion of the Khuga, Thoubal and Dolaithabi hydel projects within the government’s projected dateline, it said.
Continuing its tirade against the CM, the statement said the administration under Ibobi is centralized and there is no transparency. His government has no vision and mission. Inspite of the fact that he has been chief minister continuously for six years, no vision document for development of the state could be placed before the people. There is no direction and commitment. People are in the dark, it said.
It also noted that for the 2007-08 Annual Plan of Manipur, the Planning Commission approved an outlay of Rs. 1374.31 crore and the revised outlay was Rs. 1420.14 crore. As on 1st October 2007, only about Rs. 132 crore was spent which is less than 10%. The progress of expenditure in key sectors like Rural Development, minor irrigation, roads and bridges, public works (PAB) and education are less than 5%. Is it paving the way for rush of expenRevolt a family affair, says Ibobi Singh diture at the fag end of the year and for misutilisation of fund without works being done, it asked?
Source: http://ifp.co.in/FullStory.asp?NewsID=1172
====================
Ibobi says revolt a family affair
IMPHAL, Nov 11: Putting up a brave front in the face of the revolt against him by a sizeable section of Congress MLAs, chief minister O Ibobi Singh undertook a day-long tour of various development projects being taken up in and around the state capital today.
The chief minister, speaking to a group of mediapersons who accompanied him on the tour, dismissed the dissident activity against him as a family squabble. He also maintained he has not given much thought to the possible collapse of his government. ‘I am more interested in development work’, he said.
At the same time, the chief minister again challenged the dissidents to prove the charges they have raised again him, particularly with regard to his involvement in corruption. ‘If they produce credible proof, I’m ready to resign from chief ministership at once,’ Ibobi reiterated, denying categorically that he had taken bribes in transfer and posting of officials or in distribution of ministerial portfolios.
The chief minister also said an inquiry is in progress against those MLAs from whose quarters the state police had arrested underground activists in multiple raids conducted since a few months, and reiterated that his government has decided to take legal action against MLAs, ministers and other VIPs who harbour militants.
The chief minister also remarked that the law and order situation could be checked if such frequent raids are conducted, including in various government departments.
It may be mentioned, most of the MLAs from whose quarters underground cadres wre arrested are now in the dissident camp.
The chief minister also said the state government is not facing financial problems, and there are adequate funds for the various projects that have been taken up. He added that payment of bills to contractors was being held up only due to the requirement of advance payment of salaries for government employees ahead of the Ningol Chakouba.
During his tour today, the chief minister visited the Capitol Project site at Chingmeirong, where he inspected work on the proposed secretariat office building, and on the new High Court complex at Mantripukhri. The CM also went up to Koirengei to inspect development work on the NH-39 being taken up under the PWD.
While visiting the site where the new Lamlong bridge is being constructed at a cost of Rs.4 crores, the chief minister observed that the approach roads to the bridge would have to be widened, which would necessitate removal of some small shops currently occupying the roadside.
At the Khuman Lampak sports complex, the CM visited the site where a new multipurpose indoor stadium is being built, and made clear his dissatisfaction with the quality of the work. At the complex, he also visited the hockey stadium, the rowing canal, and the swimming pool.
Ibobi also visited some of the sites at Lamphelpat where the sewerage project is being taken up, in addition to inspecting ongoing work on the Keisamthong bridge, and also the condition of the bridges at Heirangoithong and Singjamei.
The chief minister was accompanied by information minister, TN Haokip, works minister, K Ranjit, IFCD minister, N Biren and MLAs Kh Loken and T Mangibabu during the tour.
Source: http://ifp.co.in/FullStory.asp?NewsID=1171
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