Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 22, 2009:
It did not come as a surprise to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi as he listened to AICC president Sonia Gandhi asking him if it was true that the number of underground militant outfits in Manipur has increased to over 30 during his administration.
Having learnt from questions asked him by the party supremo that someone or some people had given her mischievous reports to malign him, Chief Minister Ibobi coolly clarified all doubts that had been nagging Sonia Gandhi's mind, a most reliable source said.
The Chief Minister told the Congress president that it was not true that the number of underground militant outfits has increased during his administration.
The number of underground outfits in Manipur had already been over 30 since many years ago.
The source said, during the meeting he held with the party president yesterday, Chief Minister Ibobi gave her detailed accounts of what had been happening in Manipur during the recent past.
He also told her about the July 23 incident of Imphal city market, how the agitations came about, who were behind the agitations, the negotiation between the state government and the agitating bodies through senior citizens, etc.
He narrated to her the difficult situations in which the state forces have to operate to face too many groups of militant organisations who are all armed with highly sophisticated weapons and trained in foreign countries.
After listening to Chief Minister Ibobi in rapt attention, Sonia Gandhi appeared quite pleased and told him to try to resolve the present impasse between the state government and the agitating groups as early as possible.
She then asked the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram to extend full support to the Chief Minister to deal with the law and order situation and insurgency problems.
Whatever required will be given to the state government, she assured Chief Minister Ibobi, the source informed.
Sonia Gandhi also told Chief Minister Ibobi to make it sure that Congress wins the bye-election to Yaiskul assembly constituency.
The source further informed that the Chief Secretary of Manipur, DS Poonia had talks with the Union Home Secretary, GK Pillai and discussed issues regarding the insurgency and law and order problems.
The Centre has approved Manipur government's proposals of opening three more battalions of IRB.
In fact Manipur government demanded four battalions of IRB.
The Centre has directed the state government to set up police stations with sufficient strength at hill and rural areas, for which required funds will be sanctioned.
The source said that Chief Minister O Ibobi's visit to Delhi this time has been a complete success with the party president and the Central government expressing full confidence in the present state government headed by Ibobi and readiness for extending maximum support to the government to fight insurgency and bring peace and normalcy in the state.
Reacting to reports in certain section of the media in Manipur, the source denied that during the meeting on Friday, Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram told Chief Minister Ibobi to give up the Home portfolio and hand it over to someone else.
The Home Minister did not bring up the issue during the meeting at all, the source said.
The source said that Chief Minister Ibobi came out with higher confidence after the meeting with Sonia Gandhi yesterday.
It is learnt that the proposed meeting between him and the Union Home Minister scheduled for today had not taken place due to busy schedules of the Home Minister.
The meeting may be held tomorrow.