Imphal, July 06: The Assembly was today unanimous in its decision to oppose closure of the Imphal office of the Indian Airlines and to hand it over to a private agency for its operation.

In response to a Call Attention Motion raised by Opposition MLAs of MPP O Joy and Dr Nimaichand Luwang, both the members of the Opposition and the Ruling benches discussed the move being made to close down the Indian Airlines Office at Imphal thoroughly before taking a resolution against such a move.

After listening to the opinions of the House leader Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and other members, House Chairman RK Thekho moved the resolution which was finally passed by the august House.

It was also resolved that the decision of the House would be communicated to the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Civil Aviation Minister.

Raising the Call Attention Motion, Joy said that the move to close down the Airlines office at Imphal is being made by an Imphal-based travel agency in collusion with the Station Manager of Indian Airlines at Kolkata for their own vested interest on alleged ground it is not generating income so that its operation can be handed over to a private interest.

Joy observed that closing down the Imphal office of the Airlines while the problem of security along the National Highways is still an issue will be an insult to the State Government as well as to its people.

It should be the duty of the State Government to find out whether the move is being made because of undue pressures from militants.

Otherwise, a police case should be registered against those who are making the move on the sly and given fitting punishment, he said while drawing the attention of the Government to the matter.

Dr Luwang alleged that it is the handiwork of some Non-Manipuri officials who do not like to be posted at the Imphal office.

Closure of the Indian Airlines office at Imphal would further alienate the people from the mainstream, he observed.

So the Government of India should give necessary instructions to the Ministry concerned so that the office is not closed down, Dr Luwang said.

In his response, Chief Minister O Ibobi said he does not think that the Imphal office would be closed down in view of the fact that efforts are being made to upgrade the Tulihal Airport at Imphal to International level.

However, he feared that the tasks of booking tickets and cargo handling, which are presently being performed by the Indian Airlines staff might be given over to some private agencies.

Ibobi disclosed that there had been instances in which the staffs of Airlines had requested for providing more security coverage in view of the threats on their lives.

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