NREGS at CCpur impresses observer
S Singlianmang Guite [TSE]
Lamka, Dec 9 : In less than a month after Chura-chandpur witnessed the actual implementation of NREGS, its achievement has surpassed the common expectations and impressively convinced the Central observer when he visited some of the work sites yesterday.
Visiting some of the work sites, the Central observer NK Singh/Sinha, Assistant Commissioner, NREGS, Ministry of Rural Development, Govt of India gave an impressive remark on the overwhelming response NREGS has received from its 30,000 odd Job Card holders in Churachandpur.
“I am very happy with the way people of Churachand-pur have responded to the scheme in the last 15 to 20 days. It is tremendous. Certainly the programme is going to take off in this area,” he said. He also hailed the enthusiasm of the people and encouraged them to continue their noble efforts in making the programme a success.
“You have to plan and implement, we will only provide you funds. Look at the developmental activities and employment you have given to the people. Even the smiles on the faces of the people already tells a lot,” the observer told village elders.
In some of the work sites, a novel and impressive scene of nannies attending to scores of children whose mothers were working on the sites greeted the visiting official. At Saidan, a village on the outskirt of the township where more than 200 Job Card holders were engaged in widening their access road, the observer had an appealing photo-op as the villagers were actively engaged in crushing the rock-strewn foothills. The job otherwise should have been meant for JCBs and Bulldozers.
Visibly impressed with the well planned make over Molnom village has witnessed under NREGS, Singh in his remark to the Deputy Commissioner Sumant Singh, even compared the villagers to the English in Europe.
The remark NK Sinha had made to the media on the need to implement such a scheme in a State like Manipur where there is enormous dearth of employment was compounded by the encounters he had while chatting with the villagers. Atleast in three of the six sites he had visited, grimy women who were call for interaction speaks English and Hindi in a way more substantial than anyone could expect from a daily labourer.
The response a graduate woman who identified herself as Lhingboi at Haijang village gave to the observer that their husbands had to work somewhere else as they needs to meet their daily square meal tells aplenty.
==============================================================
House of Lords to listen to Naga issue
Newmai News Network
Imphal, Dec 9 : Secretary General of the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) Dr Neivetso Venuh will be highlighting the Naga issue at United Kingdom’s House of Lords, London commemorating the Interna- tional Human Rights Day on December 10.
A copy of his speech to be delivered on the ocassion which was made available to NNN said, “Nagas are indigenous peoples, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman stock with an approximate 4 million in population and live along the tri-junction of Burma ( Myanmar ), China , and India . From time immemorial, they inhabit the land lying approximately between 92.5 E and 97.5 E longitudes and 23.5 N and 28.5 N latitudes, measuring about 1,20,000 sq kilometers”.
Dr N Venuh’s speech mentions that in 1832, Captains Francis Jenkins and RB Pemberton, entered the Naga country and led numerous “punitive” expe- ditions against the Nagas for their resistance which led to open confrontation till 1879 when a large area of the then Naga country was occupied and controlled by the then British-India.
When the British left India in 1947, the stand of the Nagas that they be left as an independent Nation as hitherto enjoyed, was unattended, despite the fact that as early as 1929, the Naga Club submitted a Memorandum to the Simon Commission stating and requesting that they be excluded from the proposed ‘political reforms’ of British India, which arbitrarily generalized the Nagas as being under India.
The Naga representation clearly stated “We should not be thrust to the mercy of the people who could not subjugate us.
“Leave us alone to determine for ourselves as in ancient times when Britishers first found us” was the expressed will of the Naga people, said Dr Venuh in his speech which will be read out at the House of Lords in London on December 10.
[TSE]
==============================================================
Left parties urged to exert pressure on govt, CPI leaders extend support to demand for delinking from delimitation process
By : A Staff Reporter 12/10/2007 1:10:55 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 9: Central leaders of the CPI have assured support to the campaign for delinking of Manipur from the delimitation process in a meeting with the all parties’ delegation from the state on Sunday at New Delhi.
The delegation of all political parties are campaigning for the exemption of Manipur along with other states of the northeast like Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, which have cases pending on the matter of the 2001 census report, from the purview of the delimitation commission. They are urging for an ordinance at an early date in this regard or otherwise maintenance of the “status quo” in respect of Manipur.
The delegation of the political parties of Manipur led by state chief minister O Ibobi Singh met the CPI leaders AB Bardhan and D Raja at Ajay Bhavan, CPI office at 11.30 am today. They also met CPI (M) leaders like Prakash Karat, national general secretary after the meeting with the CPI leaders, a statement of the NCP general secretary K Sharatkumar on behalf of the all political parties team from Manipur said.
The all political parties delegation comprised of all associate members of the delimitation commission for Manipur except Gaikhangam, president MPCC and Md. Hellaluddin, MLA and leader of Legislature Party RJD, a member of the delegation.
Gaikhangam, who has been staying at Delhi, mention may be made, arrived at Imphal today while Hellaluddin is in the national capital.
During the meetings, the delegation elaborately explained to the Left leaders the high growth rate of population in some hill districts and low growth rate in the valley districts of the state in the census report 2001 which resulted in its rejection by all political parties of the state.
They also briefed the leaders on their repeated appeal to the Delimitation Commission of India and the Central government as well, not to proceed with the delimitation process on the basis of the “bogus” census report 2001 stating that it was a table managed one.
Stating that since the Delimitation Commission of India had already completed and notified the delimitation process in respect of 25 states of the country, the delegation urged for full cooperation of the Left leaders to pressurize the Union government to exempt the cases in respect of Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh from the purview of the delimitation commission by issuing an ordinance.
The delegation also urged support to the demand for maintaining the status quo of Manipur, if the promulgation of an ordinance cannot be materialized by the Central government.
A statement issued on behalf of the all parties delegation said that the Left observed that the case of Manipur and other three states of the north east deserved to be measured by a different yardstick. While observing this, they also maintained that there was no protest against the census report 2001 from other states of the country other than the north eastern states.
Agreeing with the objections put forward by Manipur against the delimitation process which was based on the irregular census report 2001 in the north east states and opinion of state delegation to consider it as priority, the Left leaders, as partners of the UPA government at the Centre, assured maximum support in the de-linking of Manipur from the delimitation process.
Mention may be made that the delegation had also met the Union home minister Shivraj Patil and parliamentary affairs minister Janeshawar Mishra yesterday and submitted memorandums requesting exemption of Manipur from the purview of the delimitation as done in the case of Jammu and Kashmir.
[IFP]
=============================================================
Gaikhangam stonewalls reporters, denies any dissident movement
By : A Staff Reporter 12/10/2007 1:10:09 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 9: MPCC chief Gaikhangam doesn’t know that dissident MLAs who are campaigning for ouster of O Ibobi Singh from chief ministership are now camping at MLA Nandakumar’s quarter after returning from the national capital.
He also ruled out any question of lobbying for replacement O Ibobi Singh as chief minister of the state.
Replying to questions raised by some media persons on the sidelines of the celebration of Sonia Gandhi’s 61st birthday, Gaikhangam said the present prevailing situation in the Congress party since around one month back is a family matter. He said, “Phibam asi emung manung, matei monao gi oiba waphamni.”
Even as he said that there is no question of change of the chief minister of the Congress led government in the state, he said “Karigumba khatna cheinaba haibadi mei chakpa taragadi fire adu muthatkadabani” (If fire breaks out it should be put off).
There is no enmity among the Congress MLAs and “we are still together” the MPCC chief who returned from New Delhi this morning and turned up to attend Sonia’s birthday celebration at Congress Bhavan said.
He also said he was never a leader of the Congress dissident group. On the charge of deteriorating law and order situation in the state and on allegations of corruption, he said that there were no moves to replace the chief minister on these issues.
Reacting to talk of Th Debendra being projected as chief minister in place of Ibobi, he observed that there is no consideration for the same so far in the Congress.
He is not willing to become chief minister as a president of the state Congress, Gikhangam reiterated and said that he had no knowledge of the camp of dissident MLAs at Nandakumar’s quarter.
With regard to the proposed visit of the All India Congress general secretary north east in-charge, the MPCC chief said that Chauhan is coming to the state to oversee the state Congress organization as a party in-charge.
Gaikhangam faced the mediapersons when he turned up at the Congress Bhavan to attend the celebration of Sonia Gandhi’s birthday.
As part of the celebrations, Gaikhangam also distributed eatables and cloths (kampal) to the patients at RIMS, JN hospital, TB hospital, Lei-ingkhol and to the children of Orphan Home, Deulahland, and Tera Children Home.
The celebration function and distribution of gifts at the said places was also attended by YAS minister N Biren, works minister K Ranjit, education minister L Jayentakumar and MPCC vice president AK Mirabai along with workers of the party.
[IFP]
========================================================
Rebels return from Delhi, open camp in Imphal, No official intimation yet on Chauhan’s visit to state
By : A Staff Reporter 12/9/2007 12:39:21 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 8: Dissident Congress MLAs shifted their camp to the state capital as all the MLAs camping in the national capital, New Delhi since the first week of November last calling for the ouster of O Ibobi Singh as chief minister, returned on Saturday.
Their return it seems is the outcome of among others, yesterday’s news of Sonia Gandhi’s reported assurance to Rishang Keishing.
As reported by the media, Sonia had assured Rishang that she would consider the matter of replacement of the leader of the state Congress legislature after the Gujarat Assembly poll which is scheduled on December 19.
Political observers feel that even though Congress general secretary, north east incharge Prithivi Raj Chauhan may come to Imphal, he would not make a hasty decision on the demand of the rebel MLAs.
He may come and leave after observing the actual ground situation of the crisis within the Congress.
Apart from this, there is still no intimation of the visit of the Union minister of labour to the state. Concerned state authorities are yet to receive any instruction for security and other arrangements for his visit, an official source said.
The rebelo’s return to Imphal, according to another reliable source, was also prompted by the assurance from the Congress general secretary northeast in-charge, Prithivi Raj Chauahan that he would visit the state and bring an amicable solution to the crisis within the Congress.
Revenue minister Th Debendra who was declared as their leader by the rebel MLAs and has been in the rebel camp for around a week, left Delhi yesterday and arrived in Imphal after a day’s stay at Kolkata.
Today, altogether 12 MLAs arrived at Imphal and as soon as they arrived, instead of heading for their respective homes or quarters, they opted to stay together at the quarter of an MLA (L Nandakumar, former education minister). The MLA himself is also among the rebel MLAs demanding the replacement of the chief minister.
It may be recalled that several dissident ministers and MLAs of the Congress have been lobbying for ouster of O Ibobi Singh from chief ministership with the Congress high command at the Centre.
The dissidents have been claiming signed support of 18 MLAs including some ministers for replacement of Ibobi Singh as state Congress legislatures’ leader. There are altogether 31 Congress MLAs in the state.
Even though the Congress enjoys absolute majority in the 60-member Assembly, the present Secular Progressive Front government was formed with three MLAs of the CPI.
Out of the 18, according to a source in the rebel camp, some had already reached Imphal earlier.
The 12 MLAs who arrived at Imphal today are Kh Govindas, Bijoy Koijam, Y Surchandra, I Hemochandra, M Hemanta, L Brajabidhu, M Manindra, K Meghachandra, L Nandababu, T Manga Vaiphei, Dr. Kh Ratankumar and Congress chief whip, T Mangibabu.
Among them T Mangibabu, mention may be made, joined the rebel group in the latter part after the MLAs openly revolted against O Ibobi.
Other dissident MLAs like Y Erabot, FCS minister M Oken etc. were already stationed at the state capital from some days back. Whether they joined the camp at Imphal could not be immediately confirmed.
However, MPCC chief Gaikhangam is still in Delhi as he was among the delegation of an all political party team of the state led by chief minister O Ibobi Singh who are lobbying for support on the delimitation issue.
In the meantime, the delegation of all political parties reportedly started their campaign against conduct of the delimitation work in the state based on 2001 census report with a meeting with the Union home minister, Shivraj Patil.
[IFP]
=============================================================
Third time lucky for Thangmeiband team, NISA lift maiden CC Meet Trophy
By Our Sports Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 9 : It proved third time lucky for North Imphal Sporting Association (NISA) as they downed a spirited All Moirang Football Association (AMOFA) 2-0 in the final of the 51st CC Meet at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium today to lift the coveted CC Meet trophy, 2007.
The team from Thang-meiband had earlier reached the final of the CC Meet tournament in 1969 and then again in 1994. NISA were however beaten to the coveted trophy in the earlier final appearances.
For the Moirang side, this was their first entry to the final of the tournament.
Though the match did not really rise to any great heights, thanks in no small part to the extremely uneven playing ground, that did not deter the record turn out, estimated to be about 15,000 plus.
Amid the cheers and of course jeers from fans and supporters of the two sides, the match kicked off a 1.15 pm.
It was a cacophony of noise, alright, with the fans of either side resorting to bursting of crackers and beating of the cymbals.
The hold that football has over the people of Manipur was clearly demonstrated today, especially by the supporters of AMOFA, who came in buses, private four wheelers, hired three wheelers, two wheelers, from Moirang to cheer their team.
For NISA too there was no lacking in support from the fans and while the final match was well organised, the traffic could have been better managed.
The traffic chaos, however, did not take the sheen off the occassion.
[TSE]
S Singlianmang Guite [TSE]
Lamka, Dec 9 : In less than a month after Chura-chandpur witnessed the actual implementation of NREGS, its achievement has surpassed the common expectations and impressively convinced the Central observer when he visited some of the work sites yesterday.
Visiting some of the work sites, the Central observer NK Singh/Sinha, Assistant Commissioner, NREGS, Ministry of Rural Development, Govt of India gave an impressive remark on the overwhelming response NREGS has received from its 30,000 odd Job Card holders in Churachandpur.
“I am very happy with the way people of Churachand-pur have responded to the scheme in the last 15 to 20 days. It is tremendous. Certainly the programme is going to take off in this area,” he said. He also hailed the enthusiasm of the people and encouraged them to continue their noble efforts in making the programme a success.
“You have to plan and implement, we will only provide you funds. Look at the developmental activities and employment you have given to the people. Even the smiles on the faces of the people already tells a lot,” the observer told village elders.
In some of the work sites, a novel and impressive scene of nannies attending to scores of children whose mothers were working on the sites greeted the visiting official. At Saidan, a village on the outskirt of the township where more than 200 Job Card holders were engaged in widening their access road, the observer had an appealing photo-op as the villagers were actively engaged in crushing the rock-strewn foothills. The job otherwise should have been meant for JCBs and Bulldozers.
Visibly impressed with the well planned make over Molnom village has witnessed under NREGS, Singh in his remark to the Deputy Commissioner Sumant Singh, even compared the villagers to the English in Europe.
The remark NK Sinha had made to the media on the need to implement such a scheme in a State like Manipur where there is enormous dearth of employment was compounded by the encounters he had while chatting with the villagers. Atleast in three of the six sites he had visited, grimy women who were call for interaction speaks English and Hindi in a way more substantial than anyone could expect from a daily labourer.
The response a graduate woman who identified herself as Lhingboi at Haijang village gave to the observer that their husbands had to work somewhere else as they needs to meet their daily square meal tells aplenty.
==============================================================
House of Lords to listen to Naga issue
Newmai News Network
Imphal, Dec 9 : Secretary General of the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) Dr Neivetso Venuh will be highlighting the Naga issue at United Kingdom’s House of Lords, London commemorating the Interna- tional Human Rights Day on December 10.
A copy of his speech to be delivered on the ocassion which was made available to NNN said, “Nagas are indigenous peoples, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman stock with an approximate 4 million in population and live along the tri-junction of Burma ( Myanmar ), China , and India . From time immemorial, they inhabit the land lying approximately between 92.5 E and 97.5 E longitudes and 23.5 N and 28.5 N latitudes, measuring about 1,20,000 sq kilometers”.
Dr N Venuh’s speech mentions that in 1832, Captains Francis Jenkins and RB Pemberton, entered the Naga country and led numerous “punitive” expe- ditions against the Nagas for their resistance which led to open confrontation till 1879 when a large area of the then Naga country was occupied and controlled by the then British-India.
When the British left India in 1947, the stand of the Nagas that they be left as an independent Nation as hitherto enjoyed, was unattended, despite the fact that as early as 1929, the Naga Club submitted a Memorandum to the Simon Commission stating and requesting that they be excluded from the proposed ‘political reforms’ of British India, which arbitrarily generalized the Nagas as being under India.
The Naga representation clearly stated “We should not be thrust to the mercy of the people who could not subjugate us.
“Leave us alone to determine for ourselves as in ancient times when Britishers first found us” was the expressed will of the Naga people, said Dr Venuh in his speech which will be read out at the House of Lords in London on December 10.
[TSE]
==============================================================
Left parties urged to exert pressure on govt, CPI leaders extend support to demand for delinking from delimitation process
By : A Staff Reporter 12/10/2007 1:10:55 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 9: Central leaders of the CPI have assured support to the campaign for delinking of Manipur from the delimitation process in a meeting with the all parties’ delegation from the state on Sunday at New Delhi.
The delegation of all political parties are campaigning for the exemption of Manipur along with other states of the northeast like Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, which have cases pending on the matter of the 2001 census report, from the purview of the delimitation commission. They are urging for an ordinance at an early date in this regard or otherwise maintenance of the “status quo” in respect of Manipur.
The delegation of the political parties of Manipur led by state chief minister O Ibobi Singh met the CPI leaders AB Bardhan and D Raja at Ajay Bhavan, CPI office at 11.30 am today. They also met CPI (M) leaders like Prakash Karat, national general secretary after the meeting with the CPI leaders, a statement of the NCP general secretary K Sharatkumar on behalf of the all political parties team from Manipur said.
The all political parties delegation comprised of all associate members of the delimitation commission for Manipur except Gaikhangam, president MPCC and Md. Hellaluddin, MLA and leader of Legislature Party RJD, a member of the delegation.
Gaikhangam, who has been staying at Delhi, mention may be made, arrived at Imphal today while Hellaluddin is in the national capital.
During the meetings, the delegation elaborately explained to the Left leaders the high growth rate of population in some hill districts and low growth rate in the valley districts of the state in the census report 2001 which resulted in its rejection by all political parties of the state.
They also briefed the leaders on their repeated appeal to the Delimitation Commission of India and the Central government as well, not to proceed with the delimitation process on the basis of the “bogus” census report 2001 stating that it was a table managed one.
Stating that since the Delimitation Commission of India had already completed and notified the delimitation process in respect of 25 states of the country, the delegation urged for full cooperation of the Left leaders to pressurize the Union government to exempt the cases in respect of Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh from the purview of the delimitation commission by issuing an ordinance.
The delegation also urged support to the demand for maintaining the status quo of Manipur, if the promulgation of an ordinance cannot be materialized by the Central government.
A statement issued on behalf of the all parties delegation said that the Left observed that the case of Manipur and other three states of the north east deserved to be measured by a different yardstick. While observing this, they also maintained that there was no protest against the census report 2001 from other states of the country other than the north eastern states.
Agreeing with the objections put forward by Manipur against the delimitation process which was based on the irregular census report 2001 in the north east states and opinion of state delegation to consider it as priority, the Left leaders, as partners of the UPA government at the Centre, assured maximum support in the de-linking of Manipur from the delimitation process.
Mention may be made that the delegation had also met the Union home minister Shivraj Patil and parliamentary affairs minister Janeshawar Mishra yesterday and submitted memorandums requesting exemption of Manipur from the purview of the delimitation as done in the case of Jammu and Kashmir.
[IFP]
=============================================================
Gaikhangam stonewalls reporters, denies any dissident movement
By : A Staff Reporter 12/10/2007 1:10:09 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 9: MPCC chief Gaikhangam doesn’t know that dissident MLAs who are campaigning for ouster of O Ibobi Singh from chief ministership are now camping at MLA Nandakumar’s quarter after returning from the national capital.
He also ruled out any question of lobbying for replacement O Ibobi Singh as chief minister of the state.
Replying to questions raised by some media persons on the sidelines of the celebration of Sonia Gandhi’s 61st birthday, Gaikhangam said the present prevailing situation in the Congress party since around one month back is a family matter. He said, “Phibam asi emung manung, matei monao gi oiba waphamni.”
Even as he said that there is no question of change of the chief minister of the Congress led government in the state, he said “Karigumba khatna cheinaba haibadi mei chakpa taragadi fire adu muthatkadabani” (If fire breaks out it should be put off).
There is no enmity among the Congress MLAs and “we are still together” the MPCC chief who returned from New Delhi this morning and turned up to attend Sonia’s birthday celebration at Congress Bhavan said.
He also said he was never a leader of the Congress dissident group. On the charge of deteriorating law and order situation in the state and on allegations of corruption, he said that there were no moves to replace the chief minister on these issues.
Reacting to talk of Th Debendra being projected as chief minister in place of Ibobi, he observed that there is no consideration for the same so far in the Congress.
He is not willing to become chief minister as a president of the state Congress, Gikhangam reiterated and said that he had no knowledge of the camp of dissident MLAs at Nandakumar’s quarter.
With regard to the proposed visit of the All India Congress general secretary north east in-charge, the MPCC chief said that Chauhan is coming to the state to oversee the state Congress organization as a party in-charge.
Gaikhangam faced the mediapersons when he turned up at the Congress Bhavan to attend the celebration of Sonia Gandhi’s birthday.
As part of the celebrations, Gaikhangam also distributed eatables and cloths (kampal) to the patients at RIMS, JN hospital, TB hospital, Lei-ingkhol and to the children of Orphan Home, Deulahland, and Tera Children Home.
The celebration function and distribution of gifts at the said places was also attended by YAS minister N Biren, works minister K Ranjit, education minister L Jayentakumar and MPCC vice president AK Mirabai along with workers of the party.
[IFP]
========================================================
Rebels return from Delhi, open camp in Imphal, No official intimation yet on Chauhan’s visit to state
By : A Staff Reporter 12/9/2007 12:39:21 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 8: Dissident Congress MLAs shifted their camp to the state capital as all the MLAs camping in the national capital, New Delhi since the first week of November last calling for the ouster of O Ibobi Singh as chief minister, returned on Saturday.
Their return it seems is the outcome of among others, yesterday’s news of Sonia Gandhi’s reported assurance to Rishang Keishing.
As reported by the media, Sonia had assured Rishang that she would consider the matter of replacement of the leader of the state Congress legislature after the Gujarat Assembly poll which is scheduled on December 19.
Political observers feel that even though Congress general secretary, north east incharge Prithivi Raj Chauhan may come to Imphal, he would not make a hasty decision on the demand of the rebel MLAs.
He may come and leave after observing the actual ground situation of the crisis within the Congress.
Apart from this, there is still no intimation of the visit of the Union minister of labour to the state. Concerned state authorities are yet to receive any instruction for security and other arrangements for his visit, an official source said.
The rebelo’s return to Imphal, according to another reliable source, was also prompted by the assurance from the Congress general secretary northeast in-charge, Prithivi Raj Chauahan that he would visit the state and bring an amicable solution to the crisis within the Congress.
Revenue minister Th Debendra who was declared as their leader by the rebel MLAs and has been in the rebel camp for around a week, left Delhi yesterday and arrived in Imphal after a day’s stay at Kolkata.
Today, altogether 12 MLAs arrived at Imphal and as soon as they arrived, instead of heading for their respective homes or quarters, they opted to stay together at the quarter of an MLA (L Nandakumar, former education minister). The MLA himself is also among the rebel MLAs demanding the replacement of the chief minister.
It may be recalled that several dissident ministers and MLAs of the Congress have been lobbying for ouster of O Ibobi Singh from chief ministership with the Congress high command at the Centre.
The dissidents have been claiming signed support of 18 MLAs including some ministers for replacement of Ibobi Singh as state Congress legislatures’ leader. There are altogether 31 Congress MLAs in the state.
Even though the Congress enjoys absolute majority in the 60-member Assembly, the present Secular Progressive Front government was formed with three MLAs of the CPI.
Out of the 18, according to a source in the rebel camp, some had already reached Imphal earlier.
The 12 MLAs who arrived at Imphal today are Kh Govindas, Bijoy Koijam, Y Surchandra, I Hemochandra, M Hemanta, L Brajabidhu, M Manindra, K Meghachandra, L Nandababu, T Manga Vaiphei, Dr. Kh Ratankumar and Congress chief whip, T Mangibabu.
Among them T Mangibabu, mention may be made, joined the rebel group in the latter part after the MLAs openly revolted against O Ibobi.
Other dissident MLAs like Y Erabot, FCS minister M Oken etc. were already stationed at the state capital from some days back. Whether they joined the camp at Imphal could not be immediately confirmed.
However, MPCC chief Gaikhangam is still in Delhi as he was among the delegation of an all political party team of the state led by chief minister O Ibobi Singh who are lobbying for support on the delimitation issue.
In the meantime, the delegation of all political parties reportedly started their campaign against conduct of the delimitation work in the state based on 2001 census report with a meeting with the Union home minister, Shivraj Patil.
[IFP]
=============================================================
Third time lucky for Thangmeiband team, NISA lift maiden CC Meet Trophy
By Our Sports Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 9 : It proved third time lucky for North Imphal Sporting Association (NISA) as they downed a spirited All Moirang Football Association (AMOFA) 2-0 in the final of the 51st CC Meet at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium today to lift the coveted CC Meet trophy, 2007.
The team from Thang-meiband had earlier reached the final of the CC Meet tournament in 1969 and then again in 1994. NISA were however beaten to the coveted trophy in the earlier final appearances.
For the Moirang side, this was their first entry to the final of the tournament.
Though the match did not really rise to any great heights, thanks in no small part to the extremely uneven playing ground, that did not deter the record turn out, estimated to be about 15,000 plus.
Amid the cheers and of course jeers from fans and supporters of the two sides, the match kicked off a 1.15 pm.
It was a cacophony of noise, alright, with the fans of either side resorting to bursting of crackers and beating of the cymbals.
The hold that football has over the people of Manipur was clearly demonstrated today, especially by the supporters of AMOFA, who came in buses, private four wheelers, hired three wheelers, two wheelers, from Moirang to cheer their team.
For NISA too there was no lacking in support from the fans and while the final match was well organised, the traffic could have been better managed.
The traffic chaos, however, did not take the sheen off the occassion.
[TSE]
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