Imphal, September 15: Apparently jolted by the Nagaland Government�s recent legislation that opens up affiliation to Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) by schools of other State, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today left for New Delhi to apprise Central leaders on the issue.

The Chief Minister�s dash to the national capital came shortly after a hurriedly convened Cabinet meeting of the SPF Government adopted a decision for an ordinance to nullify the DAN Government�s move.

The nearly four hour long Cabinet session of the SPF coalition held today reportedly focused on the affiliation issue and culminated in the decision for enacting a law to counter the DAN Government legislation in addition to recommendation for proroguing the second session of the 9th manipur Legislative Assembly.

Briefing mediapersons on the Cabinet decisions later in the evening, Education Minister L Jayantakumar said the Chief Minister O Ibobi left Imphal today for handing over a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Union Human Resource Development Minister urging them to intervene on the sensitive issue.

Belittling the DAN government legislation as political game, the Minister confided that the SPF Cabinet is resolute on neutralising the move.

The Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of the CM also amended Section 1(4) of the Manipur Elementary and Secondary Education Act 1972 as �Provided, further, that no schools or institutions of secondary education situated in the State of manipur either recognised or not by the Government of Manipur or by the Board of Secondary Education, manipur shall be allowed to be affiliated or to be under the jurisdiction of any other board of secondary education or university without the prior approval of the Government of manipur�, he disclosed.

Indicating that students from Manipur preferring NBSE examinations would return home a dejected lot, Jayantakumar revealed of certificates issued by the Nagaland Board as �private� candidates.

many of these frustrated students later opted for the Old Course matric examination under BSEM with maximum of them successful, he added.

While highlighting that Boards of respective States have their own jurisdiction and there is no room for overlapping such strictures, the Education Minister said students as well as their guardians still prefer BSEM and not Nagaland Board as the latter labelling �private� to candidates of manipur is merely a ploy to create controversy and confusion on regularisation of these students.

Cautioning that legislation of the DAN Government would have negative implication in the education scenario of the entire North Eastern region, he affirmed that any threat posed to careers of manipuri students would be dealt with firmly.

Responding to a query, he said politically motivated move of the Nagaland Government will be faced in the same zeal while for law offenders legal proceedings would take its due course.

Joining the media briefing, Youth Affairs and sports Minister N Biren informed that during the CM�s stay in New Delhi, Central leaders would be urged to instruct Governor of Nagaland against assenting the DAN ordinance on the affiliation issue when the Nagaland assembly discuss the same on September 18 besides discussing the matter in detail with the Central trio.

Among others the memorandum to be submitted by the Chief Minister also highlights likely tension to the neighbouring States by the DAN legislation, Biren informed while adding that assent of the Governor Dr SS Sidhu on the SPF ordinance would be sought on September 17. Meanwhile, reminding that it is legally binding upon recognised or non-recognised schools and educational institutions already existent/established in Manipur to obtain consent/approval of the State government/Board for affiliation to boards or universities of other States, a Cabinet Minister on condition of anonymity described that DAN Government�s move as vague and imaginative.

Explaining on his contention, the Minister said that education is in the concurrent list and thereby affiliation to another Board other than that of the parent State would be a futile proposal while questioning whether decision of the DAN Government command consent of the Central Government further insisting that education is not a state subject.

Iterating that all aspect of the DAN Government�s decision was thoroughly discussed in the State Cabinet meeting, the Minister affirmed that a suitable law would be enacted soon to ensure no schools from the State move over to the neighbouring Nagaland.

Upholding the Cabinet decision and obviously dejected with the DAN Government�s stand on the issue, president of the opposition Manipur People�s Party Dr L Chandramani construed that interventions from other States in the internal affairs of Manipur do not subscribe or testify a healthy relationship and desired that Nagaland Government retrospect its decision.

Insisting that appropriate mechanism and prompt action need to be taken by the SPF Government to nullify the DAN government�s legislation as the subject comes under the concurrent list, Dr Chandramani also opined that the Centre have no justifiable reason to approve such a disturbing move.