Imphal, July 17: The evening session of the Assembly suddenly came alive with the Opposition accusing the ruling Front of violating the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the State Government and Union Finance Ministry and a patient Chief Minister trying to explain the position of the Government.

Replying to a general discussion motion moved by Opposition MLAs Dr Nimaichand Luwang, M Bhorot and O Joy, the Chief Minister said that his Government is bending backwards to honour the clauses of the MoU.

On the charges that the State Government has violated the MoU on many points, the Chief Minister said that though the situation has forced the Government to go against the MoU on some points, all efforts are being made to stick to the agreement reached with the Centre.

On the steps being taken up by the SPF Government to honour the MoU, the Chief Minister said that doctors and field assistants appointed in the Veterinary Department during the tenure of previous Governments in violation of the MoU have been shown the door.

Highlighting the problems faced by the Government, the Chief Minister said that a number of schools in the hill districts are without adequate Science and Mathematics teachers.

Adhoc teachers have imposed a blockade on the highways demanding extension of their service, the Chief Minister noted.

To overcome the shortage of teachers in the hill districts, without violating the MoU, the Government is working over time to transfer teachers from the plain to the hill districts, said Ibobi adding that the appointment order of eight lecturers on contract basis effected in May this year has been kept in abeyance.

The MoU contains the clause that the Government should stop giving grant-in-aid to schools and higher secondary schools, said the Chief Minister adding that at times such clauses make it extremely difficult for the Government to adhere to the MoU.

Strongly accusing the Government of violating the MoU, BJP MLA M Bhorot said that in the first place the State Government should not have signed the MoU if it is not able to stick by the agreement reached with the Centre.

Joining in the chorus against the Government, MPP MLA O Joy said that though the MoU was signed in 1999 and 2002, a number of Ministers have been violating the same with impunity.

Joy said that different orders were issued which effectively put a ban on fresh appointments, declaring results of DPCs, to abolish vacant posts, to try and vacate orders from the Court if it goes against the MoU and to stop extension of adhoc appointments.

The MoU also contains the provisions that over 14 thousand posts in all the Government Departments are to be abolished, said Joy adding that there is also a provision that appointments under the die-in-harness scheme should go.

However a number of Ministers have been violating these provisions and effecting appointments at their own personal interest, charged the Opposition member.