Declaration of Ministers assets stalled
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 12 2012:
Official declaration of assets of Ministers and ruling party MLAs is being stalled as the Cabinet Sub-Committee set up on the matter has not yet submitted its report, informed Home Minister Gaikhangam while interacting with some newspersons at his office chamber today.
The Sub Committee headed by Revenue Minister Th Debendra was supposed to submit its report to facilitate declaration of assets of Ministers and MLAs, said Gaikhangam while pointing out that the Cabinet Sub Committee was formed at the instruction of the Union Home Ministry.
Stating that declaring assets of Ministers and ruling party MLAs is a sensitive issue, he opined that Ministers/MLAs voluntarily declare their wealth and added that it would be a positive and healthy sign.
He further confided that after 2-3 meetings of the Committee it was decided that report about wealth of Ministers/MLAs would be sent to the Prime Minister instead of the initial decision to send the same to the Governor.
The Cabinet Sub Committee was formed during the second term of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who is now into his third stint in office as the Chief Minister after the election this year.
This is in stark contrast with the Union Ministry where a number of Ministers, including the Prime Minister have declared their assets recently.
When enquired when the Government of Manipur would be holding political dialogue with Kuki armed groups, Gaikhangam maintained that as the armed organisations under Suspension of Operation are not complying with the ground rules in its true sense time is not ripe enough to initiate political dialogues.