IMPHAL, Nov 5: Chief minister O Ibobi Singh, making his first public comments on the ongoing move by a section of Congress legislators to unseat him, has thrown down the gauntlet to his detractors, challenging them to prove the charges they have made against him.
The chief minister has also served a blunt warning to the ministers actively involved with the dissidents, saying there are any number of MLAs who would be willing to replace them in the council of ministers.
The chief minister, who spoke to IFP from New Delhi over the telephone this morning, categorically denied the charges of corruption laid against him, stating that if any credible evidence is produced of his involvement in corruption and bribe-taking, he would resign from chief ministership instantly.
‘If anyone produces proof that I have been engaging in corruption or bribe-taking, whether it is in assignment of contract work, sanctioning of bills, recruitment or transfers, I’m ready to quit on the spot,’ said a spirited Ibobi.
Ibobi also denied categorically that he had taken bribes in assignment of ministerial portfolios.
On the question of law and order, the chief minister said, ‘The people of Manipur know better (why the law and order situation is so bad)’.
He remarked that if there is no insurgency, and all the insurgency-related killings and violence stop, law and order situation would automatically improve, and reiterated that his government has been making repeated attempts to initiate talks with the underground groups to bring a political solution to the insurgency.
Referring apparently to Rajya Sabha member and former chief minister Rishang Keishing, who had made some adverse comments in the local media, Ibobi also pointed out that vicious ethnic clashes had taken place during the tenure of previous chief ministers which they were unable to bring under control.
‘Would anyone say that law and order situation was under control at that time,’ he asked.
Regarding the reported involvement of some members of the council of ministers in the move to oust him, Ibobi claimed that he had no idea which ministers were among the dissidents.
However, he made if clear to such ministers that if they are tired of their jobs, there are any number of MLAs who are hankering for a ministership and who were ready to replace them.
Ibobi also said it would be more gutsy on the part of such ministers if they resigned from ministership before taking up cudgels against him. ‘Nupa thokna hanna minister phamdagi resign touraga loabiyu,’ (‘Act like men, and quit your posts first’), he said.
The chief minister went on to observe that the current political unrest was unfortunate, since it could prove to be a hindrance to the development of the state.
At the same time, he said the so-called political crisis in Manipur had made hardly a ripple in Delhi. The postponement of the central working committee meeting called by AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, had nothing to do with the emerging crisis in Manipur, he clarified.
===========================
Congress high command gives Ibobi camp a hearing, rebels made to wait
IMPHAL, Nov 5: The matter of revolt against chief minister O Ibobi Singh’s leadership has finally reached the ears of the Congress high command at the Centre. But not by the efforts of the rebel camp, rather from the chief minister himself.
The chief minister who along with his supporters is camping at the national capital had an audience with the Congress high command including Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh late this afternoon and reportedly briefed them on the latest developments in the state.
Interestingly, Congress MLAs in the dissident camp are yet to get a green signal for an audience with the high command despite their repeated pleas. However, reports said that MPCC chief Gaikhangam had a brief meeting with Congress north east in-charge, Prithivi Raj Chauhan.
The chief minister is likely to return to the state capital tomorrow by an Indigo flight. Security from the airport to his bungalow has been arranged by the state police department, an official source said.
According to a minister who accompanied the chief minister to New Delhi, they called on Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Sonia’s right hand Ambika Soni, and Congress general secretary north east Prithivi Raj Chauhan late in the afternoon at around 5.20 pm. PWD minister K Ranjit and IFCD minister N Biren and some other MLAs accompanied the chief minister in the meeting.
During the meeting, the chief minister reportedly admitted that the law and order situation in the state had worsened but also observed that the state alone could not deal with the subject effectively. It needs Central help in restoring the same, an MLA who did not want to be named but who accompanied the chief minister during the meeting said.
After hearing the statement of the chief minister, both Sonia and Manmohan assured of all possible help to the state in dealing with the law and order situation, the MLA added.
The chief minister who is also attending the 4th International Conference on Federalism is scheduled to reach the state by tomorrow without attending the remaining part of the conference which is due to end on November 7.
On the other hand, Gaikhangam who was unhappy with the failure to get an appointment till now with the Congress high command had a meeting with the party north east in-charge Privithi Raj this evening and was still making efforts at his best level to contact the secretaries of the Prime Minister and the Congress chief.
There is still no indication of fixing of any date for the meeting to take place, reports said. Although unhappy with the situation the rebel camp has, however, not lost hope, an MLA of the dissident camp who still claimed to have the support of 17 MLAs informed.
As they had earlier submitted a representation to the high command containing a detailed report of the badly affected law and order situation in the state and the corruption charges against the chief minister, the high command was sure to give them a hearing, the MLA observed.
Even though the Ibobi government has been charged of failing to maintain law and order which has deteriorated since 2002 and lack of transparency and concentration of Central funds to the constituencies of a select few, political analysts however observed that the ceiling on the number of ministers meant that most ruling party MLAs would anyway be left out of ministerial consideration, widely believed to be the reason for the dissension.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
The chief minister has also served a blunt warning to the ministers actively involved with the dissidents, saying there are any number of MLAs who would be willing to replace them in the council of ministers.
The chief minister, who spoke to IFP from New Delhi over the telephone this morning, categorically denied the charges of corruption laid against him, stating that if any credible evidence is produced of his involvement in corruption and bribe-taking, he would resign from chief ministership instantly.
‘If anyone produces proof that I have been engaging in corruption or bribe-taking, whether it is in assignment of contract work, sanctioning of bills, recruitment or transfers, I’m ready to quit on the spot,’ said a spirited Ibobi.
Ibobi also denied categorically that he had taken bribes in assignment of ministerial portfolios.
On the question of law and order, the chief minister said, ‘The people of Manipur know better (why the law and order situation is so bad)’.
He remarked that if there is no insurgency, and all the insurgency-related killings and violence stop, law and order situation would automatically improve, and reiterated that his government has been making repeated attempts to initiate talks with the underground groups to bring a political solution to the insurgency.
Referring apparently to Rajya Sabha member and former chief minister Rishang Keishing, who had made some adverse comments in the local media, Ibobi also pointed out that vicious ethnic clashes had taken place during the tenure of previous chief ministers which they were unable to bring under control.
‘Would anyone say that law and order situation was under control at that time,’ he asked.
Regarding the reported involvement of some members of the council of ministers in the move to oust him, Ibobi claimed that he had no idea which ministers were among the dissidents.
However, he made if clear to such ministers that if they are tired of their jobs, there are any number of MLAs who are hankering for a ministership and who were ready to replace them.
Ibobi also said it would be more gutsy on the part of such ministers if they resigned from ministership before taking up cudgels against him. ‘Nupa thokna hanna minister phamdagi resign touraga loabiyu,’ (‘Act like men, and quit your posts first’), he said.
The chief minister went on to observe that the current political unrest was unfortunate, since it could prove to be a hindrance to the development of the state.
At the same time, he said the so-called political crisis in Manipur had made hardly a ripple in Delhi. The postponement of the central working committee meeting called by AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, had nothing to do with the emerging crisis in Manipur, he clarified.
===========================
Congress high command gives Ibobi camp a hearing, rebels made to wait
IMPHAL, Nov 5: The matter of revolt against chief minister O Ibobi Singh’s leadership has finally reached the ears of the Congress high command at the Centre. But not by the efforts of the rebel camp, rather from the chief minister himself.
The chief minister who along with his supporters is camping at the national capital had an audience with the Congress high command including Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh late this afternoon and reportedly briefed them on the latest developments in the state.
Interestingly, Congress MLAs in the dissident camp are yet to get a green signal for an audience with the high command despite their repeated pleas. However, reports said that MPCC chief Gaikhangam had a brief meeting with Congress north east in-charge, Prithivi Raj Chauhan.
The chief minister is likely to return to the state capital tomorrow by an Indigo flight. Security from the airport to his bungalow has been arranged by the state police department, an official source said.
According to a minister who accompanied the chief minister to New Delhi, they called on Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Sonia’s right hand Ambika Soni, and Congress general secretary north east Prithivi Raj Chauhan late in the afternoon at around 5.20 pm. PWD minister K Ranjit and IFCD minister N Biren and some other MLAs accompanied the chief minister in the meeting.
During the meeting, the chief minister reportedly admitted that the law and order situation in the state had worsened but also observed that the state alone could not deal with the subject effectively. It needs Central help in restoring the same, an MLA who did not want to be named but who accompanied the chief minister during the meeting said.
After hearing the statement of the chief minister, both Sonia and Manmohan assured of all possible help to the state in dealing with the law and order situation, the MLA added.
The chief minister who is also attending the 4th International Conference on Federalism is scheduled to reach the state by tomorrow without attending the remaining part of the conference which is due to end on November 7.
On the other hand, Gaikhangam who was unhappy with the failure to get an appointment till now with the Congress high command had a meeting with the party north east in-charge Privithi Raj this evening and was still making efforts at his best level to contact the secretaries of the Prime Minister and the Congress chief.
There is still no indication of fixing of any date for the meeting to take place, reports said. Although unhappy with the situation the rebel camp has, however, not lost hope, an MLA of the dissident camp who still claimed to have the support of 17 MLAs informed.
As they had earlier submitted a representation to the high command containing a detailed report of the badly affected law and order situation in the state and the corruption charges against the chief minister, the high command was sure to give them a hearing, the MLA observed.
Even though the Ibobi government has been charged of failing to maintain law and order which has deteriorated since 2002 and lack of transparency and concentration of Central funds to the constituencies of a select few, political analysts however observed that the ceiling on the number of ministers meant that most ruling party MLAs would anyway be left out of ministerial consideration, widely believed to be the reason for the dissension.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
No comments:
Post a Comment