Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 22:
Reiteration on negative impact of insurgency vis-�-vis developmental in Manipur and call for strengthening bond of brotherhood took centre-stage of the 34th Statehood Day celebration held at 1st Manipur Rifles Battalion Parade ground yesterday.
The celebration was held with chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Art & Culture Minister Ph Parijat as the chief guest and president respectively.
Highlighting numerous inconveniences caused to the State public due to various forms of antisocial activities along the lifeline - National Highway 39 - by outlawed organizations with the most severely hit being economic development in Manipur, Ibobi stressed on expeditious implementation of the Jiribam-Toupul rail-link.
Visualizing that economic development of Manipur could accelerate when rail connectivity is established; he said the SPF Government is insisting upon the Centre to speed up rail track laying works from Jiribam till Toupul which was inaugurated by the prime minister in November last.
Subsequently the Chief Minister had claimed of the Centre's nod to State's proposal for extension of the rail track till Moreh town.
Pointing out benefits to be harvested by the North East people when the railway line connects Moreh, he said trade and commerce between the region and south east Asian countries would receive tremendous boost.
Depending solely upon the surface route is shroud with uncertainties as the two national highways 39&53 are highly susceptible to anti social elements and armed outfits, he said.
Paying rich tributes to all concerned who struggled for Manipur in attaining statehood, Ibobi also asserted that ever since the status was granted in 1972 Manipur has been receiving equal plan shares from the Centre.
However, said the CM, due to frequent violence by insurgent outfits development works are constantly hampered and appealed to UG groups to shun violence and come to the negotiating table to find lasting solution to the problem.
"We can raise any legitimate demand and no one will ignore to fulfill them," asserted the Chief Minister referring to handing over of Kangla to the people of Manipur as ample proof.
In his presidential address, Ph Parijat exulting on excellence in the field of art and culture, sports, education etc regretted that implementation of welfare schemes had lagged behind due to insurgency related problems since the last many decades.
Terming insurgency as 'an all-time problem' shadowing the State the Manipur appealed to all concerned particularly the scholars and intellectual circle to provide inputs on means to tackle and solve the niggling headaches besetting Manipur.
Another problem faced by the State is the dilapidated road conditions, Parijat added.