Opposition demand resignation of IFDC minister
Great loss due to bandhs and blockades, CM Ibobi says
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, March 25 2011: Burning issues like the on going economic blockade on the national highways imposed by tribal students, murder of a youth by a minister's son and non-implementation of recommendations of the Manisana Wage Board by the Media Houses were prominently discussed today in the House of the Assembly on its last day of the Budget Session.

Opposition member, O Joy of MPP raised the issues while the House was discussing for passing Manipur Appropriation (no.2) Bill-2011 moved by Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh who is also holding the finance portfolio.

Joy observed that as the economic blockade has been imposed against policies and programmes of the government, it should not be taken lightly.

Government should deal with it seriously and make efforts to bring the striking body to the negotiating table.

He also demanded government promulgation of a "soft ordinance" so that imposition of economic blockade and bandh on the national highway can be prevented.

Government should also take up steps to make understand tge people of the losses suffered by the state by such disturbances.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, in reply to the observation, said that almost one-and-a-half years of his second five-year term had been lost due to bandhs and blockades.

He asserted that frequent bandhs and blockades faced by the state has severely affected the development of the state.

Due to the disturbances given in the transportation of building materials from outside the state by bandhs and blockades, many projects could not be completed within the targeted period, he added.

Imphal Capitol Project, Imphal Sewerage Project, Thoubal Multipurpose Project failed to meet their respective completion targets because of bandhs and blockades on the national highways, the Chief Minister lamented and assured the House that his government will find a way to check such disturbances in future.

MLA O Joy further rose up to demand the resignation of IFCD, CAF&PD and YAS minister, N Biren on moral grounds in connection with the murder case involving his son.

Joy was intervening in the discussion for passing of Manipur Appropriation (no.2) Bill-2011 moved by the Chief Minister.

He also insisted that the Home Minister table a progress report of the investigation into the murder case.

The Chief Minister, in reply to the demand of the opposition member, said that N Ajay, the son of minister Biren, and his four friends were in police custody after they were arrested by the police on the next day of the incident, on March 21 .

Asserting that the minister himself extended corporation with the police investigating into the case, Ibobi said "no one will be spared while delivering justice to the victim's family even if ministers and relatives are involved in any crime" .

He further said that the duty of the government is to be book the culprits and frame charge-sheets against the culprits and that conviction and sentencing is upto the law court.

Government has nothing to do with it, he clarified.

While pointing out that media houses in the state failed to implement the Manisana Wage Board recommendations with regard to the wages of journalists, O Joy insisted that government should take up stern action against the proprietors of these media houses.

He said that newspapers circulated above 20,000 copies daily but journalists are still under paid.

They are paid much below the minimum rate of ' 88.40 per day.

He observed that journalists are not bonded labourers.

Proprietors who violate the law should be dragged out and punished as per law, he demanded.

The Chief Minister assured of looking into the matter and to take up appropriate action if any of the proprietors were found violating the law.

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