Imphal, February 14: Launching a scathing offensive against the militants operating in the State, Chief Minister O Ibobi today said that though it is not clear whether their stated objective of gaining sovereignty is possible or not, they are nevertheless acting as hurdles to many developmental programmes being taken up in the State.

On a different plane, the Chief Minister however noted the activities of the Army and the Assam Rifles in driving out the militants from many areas of Churachandpur district.

Speaking at the inauguration function of a Fire substation at Chandel district head quarters today, the Chief Minister said that the Army, Assam Rifles and police are doing an excellent job in containing the activities of the militant groups.

The Fire sub-station was constructed at a cost of Rs 26.56 lakhs by the Manipur Police Housing Corporation.

Noting that the Army and Assam Rifles have driven out all the militant groups from Sajik Tampak in Chandel district, the Chief Minister noted that before this, Government officials were summoned to Sajik Tampak by the militant groups to extort and intimidate them.

Now Sajik Tampak is a free zone, he added.

Civil administration has been restored at Parbung, Thanlon and Tipaimukh at Churachandpur district and at Jiribam in Imphal East following the flushing out of militants from these places by the security personnel, added the Chief Minister.

Taking a dig at the militant organisations, the Chief Minister said that though it is not known whether the militant organisations can achieve their stated objectives, they have been nonetheless interfering in the developmental projects being taken up by the State Government.

Elaborating, the Chief Minister said that militant groups have forcefully garnered contract works and have been intimidating Govt officials with percentage demand of any fund.

Are such actions for the welfare of the public, is intimidating Govt officials and extorting money part of a revolutionary movement, countered the Chief Minister.

Ibobi further said that though a sum of Rs 24 crores have been earmarked to develop the Chandel-Pallel road, no work has been taken up due to interferences from the militants.

Dwelling on the performance of the SPF Government, the Chief Minister said that the Congress led SPF Government will complete four years of rule on March 7 and added that during the last three years, the SPF Govt has been able to pay the salaries of its employees regularly.

The financial position has improved appreciably, said the Chief Minister and added that though the Govt has set its eyes on taking up a number of developmental projects, there are too many unwanted interferences from outside forces.

The Govt has been appealing to such elements not to interfere in the welfare programme of the people.

Till date no militant outfit has reacted positively to the invitation by the State and Central Governments to come to the negotiating table to solve the issue, said Ibobi.

No solution can be reached without a political dialogue, he said and added that killing each other will only worsen the situation.

To bring peace and work out a solution, dialogue is the only way, said the Chief Minister and added that efforts to bring the militants to the negotiating table will continue.

On the efforts taken up in the hill districts, the Chief Minister informed the people that the Centre has agreed to the proposal of the State Govt to build a Mini-Secretariat at each of the district headquarters in the hills which will house all the administrative offices.

This project will be taken up in the next fiscal, said the Chief Minister and added that the respective DCs have been informed of the green signal given by the Centre.

The Mini-Secretariats will be constructed with funding from the Central Plan Assistance.

MLA DK Korungthang, who is the Chairman of Manipur Tribal Development Corporation said that it makes no sense for the people to blame the Govt for all the ills besetting the State and urged the people to extend their co-operation to the Govt.Construction work of the Fire Sub-Station was taken up by the Manipur Police Housing Corporation on July 27, 2004 at a cost of Rs 26.56 lakhs and it was completed on October 21, 2005.A cultural programme was also staged at the inaugural function today and the Chief Minister donated a sum of Rs 10,000 to each of the cultural troupes.

Director of Fire Service V Zathang and DC of Chandel, Norbert Disinang were also present at the function.

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