Imphal, April 11 2009: Interacting with businessmen of the Imphal Bazar here today evening as part of the election campaign , Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has derided its coalition SPF partner CPI as well as the opposition MPP by stating that the efforts of the two political parties would come to naught.

Meeting the businessmen of the Imphal Bazar at the conference hall of Hotel Nirmala, Ibobi categorically said that the whatever efforts being made by the CPI and the MPP with an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha election would be useless. In which Constituency do they think would take a lead over the Congress party, he added.

Appealing to the businessmen to bear with the unwanted incidents taking place in Bazar area for sometime atleast, the Chief Minister assured that efforts would be made to resolve the problem of insurgency very soon.

In response to the complaint raised by the businessmen on the alleged denial of tickets to non-Manipuri labourers at the bus counters to prevent them from coming to Manipur, the Chief Minister assured that the matter would be verified and if necessary security escorts would be provided to the non-Manipuri labourers from Mao.

The Chief Minister said that if the ongoing armed separatist movement against India which is not going to be materialised at all is stopped and there is no extortion, then Armed Forces Special Powers Act could be lifted at once.

However, in the prevailing situation, how could the Act be lifted, he questioned, adding that the demand of the Opposition to lift imposition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act while claiming three killing everywhere is self contradictory.

The Chief Minister also announced that starting from next month the salary of the Government employees and the bills of the contractors including that of the outside companies would be released through their respective bank accounts.

This step has been taken up by the Government to prevent deduction of percentage/leakage, the Chief Minister added.

The CMalso appealed to the businessmen to support the Congress candidate in the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

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