Debendra throws a surprise, says oust Ibobi demand premature; Expects CM to solve the ‘family quarrel’
By : Sapam Aruna
IMPHAL, Nov 13: Revenue minister Thoudam Debendra, the man whom the dissident group in the state Congress are projecting as a replacement for O Ibobi Singh as chief minister has made it clear that he thinks that the demand for ousting Ibobi from his post is a bit premature.
‘Sun leidringeida houdong hanna hatpa tagani’, (it will amount to killing the cat before the milch cow is bought) cautioned Debendra speaking exclusively to IFP in his office this afternoon. At the same time, he expressed his desire for a prompt resolution to the party crisis.
Debendra, who is the most senior in Ibobi’s cabinet, also defended the chief minister on the issue of law and order, asserting that the CM alone cannot maintain law and order.
‘The law and order situation can improve if there is cooperation between the public and the government’, he said.
He also noted that the chief minister has given a commitment to improve the law and order situation within six months’ time. ‘We should wait and watch to see whether that commitment is turned into action,’ he said.
Debendra said that the allegations levelled that Ibobi’s government is inefficient, and the demand for his removal from chief ministership is premature. ‘We must all take time to consider what the future consequences would be for the state’, he said.
Asked about his own role, Debendra said he was a minister, who is functioning under the chief minister’s leadership, and declared that he would continue to perform his duties as such.
Debendra also stressed the need to bring a solution to the ongoing tussle in the Congress, at the earliest.
While he conceded that it might be difficult to work out a solution, Debendra said in a family quarrel, the head of the family can very often bring about a reconciliation. If Ibobi is to take the government in the right direction, ‘hei singna thabak loukhatpham thok-i (he needs to act astutely),’ Debendra asserted.
The grievances and misgivings of the so-called dissident group need to be given due consideration, he stressed.
He also disclosed that the All India Congress Committee, AICC, will be meeting on November 17 at New Delhi, and asserted that either chief minister Ibobi or Debendra himself will go, as both of them cannot leave station at the same time.
The minister, who also handles the forest and environment portfolio also took the opportunity to express his sadness at the sudden demise of state additional chief secretary (forest and environment) Saichhuana recently in Kolkata.
‘It is a great loss for the state,’ Debendra said. He also informed that no one has yet taken over Saichhuana’s various responsibilities.
===========================
Rebel camp keeps up pressure on Ibobi
IMPHAL, Nov 13: The dissident camp is keeping up its media campaign attacking the record of the O Ibobi led government, issuing another press statement today highlighting the extent to which corruption has pervaded administration in the state.
Issued by Y Surchandra, the statement charged that corruption has reached its zenith in Manipur in all matters of appointment, promotions, award of contract and supply works, transfers and postings of employees etc. under Ibobi Singh.
‘Discrimination, nepotism, partiality and favouritism are well known under (Ibobi) who is popularly known as Ten Percent Ibobi’, it said.
It noted that Ibobi is currently in charge of more than 10 portfolios including key departments like Home, Finance, MAHUD, Planning, Art and Culture, General Administration Department etc apart from which he is the Chairman of Rural Health Mission and Loktak Development Authority.
‘Funds are mis-utilized or siphoned off. Funds meant for particular programme are often diverted at the chief minister’s free-will causing delays in submission of Utilization Certificate to the Centre, which led to delay, and even cancellation of the projects by the Government of India’, it charged.
It also maintained that most contract works are taken by his near and dear ones in the name of some others.
It charged that in the appointments of the 5th and 6th Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), about 80 per cent of those appointed from Thoubal district (which has 10 Assembly Constituencies) are from his and his wife’s constituencies namely Thoubal Assembly Constituency and Khangabok Assembly Constituency.
The statement also further alleged that under his regime during the last five and half years, more than 1000 fake appointments are made at different departments.
It also noted that recently under Rural Health Mission, about 40 Nurses were appointed for Thoubal District. Of this about 19 are from his constituency and 7 from his wife’s constituency, representing more than 50 per cent.
In the DPC for selection of nurses, it is reported that no subject expert was there as member, it said.
It also stated that about 7000 Anganwadi Workers and Helpers were appointed in September/October this year without having a DPC completely ignoring merit.
The statement further alleged that for appointment of supervisors in the social welfare department recently, it was exempted from the purview of the Manipur Public Service Commission simply to pave the way for favouritism and manipulation.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing campaign to unseat Ibobi from chief ministership, the dissident group approached the Union home minister, Shivraj Patil this evening, according to the spokesperson Y Surchandra who had a telephonic conversation with the IFP this evening.
The dissident group is likely to get an appointment with him by tomorrow, Surchandra expected. He also added that they would also call on the Union defence minister.
While replying to a querry, Surchandra said the meetings with the Congress leaders including ministers are required to convince them of the fact that chief minister O Ibobi Singh, who is holding maximum portfolios, was concentrating development works only in two constituencies, Thoubal and Khangabok where he and his wife were elected from.
“We don’t mind giving priority to these constituencies but he should also think of other constituencies. He seems to forget that he is the chief minister of a state,” Surchandra said.
Further talking on the Congress MLAs revolt against Ibobi, Surchandra said that if Ibobi had been transparent in his activities and equally taken up developmental works across the state, they need not have revolted to oust him.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
By : Sapam Aruna
IMPHAL, Nov 13: Revenue minister Thoudam Debendra, the man whom the dissident group in the state Congress are projecting as a replacement for O Ibobi Singh as chief minister has made it clear that he thinks that the demand for ousting Ibobi from his post is a bit premature.
‘Sun leidringeida houdong hanna hatpa tagani’, (it will amount to killing the cat before the milch cow is bought) cautioned Debendra speaking exclusively to IFP in his office this afternoon. At the same time, he expressed his desire for a prompt resolution to the party crisis.
Debendra, who is the most senior in Ibobi’s cabinet, also defended the chief minister on the issue of law and order, asserting that the CM alone cannot maintain law and order.
‘The law and order situation can improve if there is cooperation between the public and the government’, he said.
He also noted that the chief minister has given a commitment to improve the law and order situation within six months’ time. ‘We should wait and watch to see whether that commitment is turned into action,’ he said.
Debendra said that the allegations levelled that Ibobi’s government is inefficient, and the demand for his removal from chief ministership is premature. ‘We must all take time to consider what the future consequences would be for the state’, he said.
Asked about his own role, Debendra said he was a minister, who is functioning under the chief minister’s leadership, and declared that he would continue to perform his duties as such.
Debendra also stressed the need to bring a solution to the ongoing tussle in the Congress, at the earliest.
While he conceded that it might be difficult to work out a solution, Debendra said in a family quarrel, the head of the family can very often bring about a reconciliation. If Ibobi is to take the government in the right direction, ‘hei singna thabak loukhatpham thok-i (he needs to act astutely),’ Debendra asserted.
The grievances and misgivings of the so-called dissident group need to be given due consideration, he stressed.
He also disclosed that the All India Congress Committee, AICC, will be meeting on November 17 at New Delhi, and asserted that either chief minister Ibobi or Debendra himself will go, as both of them cannot leave station at the same time.
The minister, who also handles the forest and environment portfolio also took the opportunity to express his sadness at the sudden demise of state additional chief secretary (forest and environment) Saichhuana recently in Kolkata.
‘It is a great loss for the state,’ Debendra said. He also informed that no one has yet taken over Saichhuana’s various responsibilities.
===========================
Rebel camp keeps up pressure on Ibobi
IMPHAL, Nov 13: The dissident camp is keeping up its media campaign attacking the record of the O Ibobi led government, issuing another press statement today highlighting the extent to which corruption has pervaded administration in the state.
Issued by Y Surchandra, the statement charged that corruption has reached its zenith in Manipur in all matters of appointment, promotions, award of contract and supply works, transfers and postings of employees etc. under Ibobi Singh.
‘Discrimination, nepotism, partiality and favouritism are well known under (Ibobi) who is popularly known as Ten Percent Ibobi’, it said.
It noted that Ibobi is currently in charge of more than 10 portfolios including key departments like Home, Finance, MAHUD, Planning, Art and Culture, General Administration Department etc apart from which he is the Chairman of Rural Health Mission and Loktak Development Authority.
‘Funds are mis-utilized or siphoned off. Funds meant for particular programme are often diverted at the chief minister’s free-will causing delays in submission of Utilization Certificate to the Centre, which led to delay, and even cancellation of the projects by the Government of India’, it charged.
It also maintained that most contract works are taken by his near and dear ones in the name of some others.
It charged that in the appointments of the 5th and 6th Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), about 80 per cent of those appointed from Thoubal district (which has 10 Assembly Constituencies) are from his and his wife’s constituencies namely Thoubal Assembly Constituency and Khangabok Assembly Constituency.
The statement also further alleged that under his regime during the last five and half years, more than 1000 fake appointments are made at different departments.
It also noted that recently under Rural Health Mission, about 40 Nurses were appointed for Thoubal District. Of this about 19 are from his constituency and 7 from his wife’s constituency, representing more than 50 per cent.
In the DPC for selection of nurses, it is reported that no subject expert was there as member, it said.
It also stated that about 7000 Anganwadi Workers and Helpers were appointed in September/October this year without having a DPC completely ignoring merit.
The statement further alleged that for appointment of supervisors in the social welfare department recently, it was exempted from the purview of the Manipur Public Service Commission simply to pave the way for favouritism and manipulation.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing campaign to unseat Ibobi from chief ministership, the dissident group approached the Union home minister, Shivraj Patil this evening, according to the spokesperson Y Surchandra who had a telephonic conversation with the IFP this evening.
The dissident group is likely to get an appointment with him by tomorrow, Surchandra expected. He also added that they would also call on the Union defence minister.
While replying to a querry, Surchandra said the meetings with the Congress leaders including ministers are required to convince them of the fact that chief minister O Ibobi Singh, who is holding maximum portfolios, was concentrating development works only in two constituencies, Thoubal and Khangabok where he and his wife were elected from.
“We don’t mind giving priority to these constituencies but he should also think of other constituencies. He seems to forget that he is the chief minister of a state,” Surchandra said.
Further talking on the Congress MLAs revolt against Ibobi, Surchandra said that if Ibobi had been transparent in his activities and equally taken up developmental works across the state, they need not have revolted to oust him.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
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