Centre will inform state whether Meghen has been arrested or not: CM Ibobi
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 22 2010: Manipur Chief Minister, O Ibobi today broke his silence on the matter of the reported arrest of UNLF chairman RK Meghen @ Sana Yaima in Bangladesh and subsequent handing over to India saying that the state government has requested the Centre to take initiative to confirm the report.

"We have held consultation with the Union Home Secretary, GK Pillai during his recent visit to the state, and also have written to the MHA to confirm the report of arrest of the UNLF leader," Chief Minister Ibobi said in a reply to a query from reporters when he along with some cabinet Ministers and MLAs paid a visit to the newly constructed market complexes at Khwairamban here today.

Though he is an underground leader, RK Meghen @ Sana Yaima is a Manipuri.

He is leading a movement for a cause.

Whether he is guilty or not should come later, the Chief Minister said.

The fact that RK Sana Yaima's whereabouts are unknown, the people of Manipur and his family members have been made to feel uneasy.

Chief Minister, O Ibobi, Works Minister K Ranjit, IFCD Minister N Biren and officials during an inspection visit to the Khwairamban market complexes

While he was thinking of going to Delhi to meet the Central leaders to ask them to find out the whereabouts of Sana Yaima, Union Home Secretary, GK Pillai arrived in Imphal.

He had talked to him about the matter and knowing the sentiments of the people of Manipur told him to disclose the whereabouts of RK Meghen.

Pillai told him that the Government of India would inquire about his whereabouts from the government of Bangladesh and would intimate him soon, Chief Minister Ibobi said.

Regarding non-availability of petrol and diesel at the oil pumps but are being available in black market at very high price, the Chief Minister said, due to frequent landslides on the two National Highways as it was rainy season, transportation of the petroleum products was badly disturbed resulting in inability of the authority to sell fuel openly.

On a question that instead of the Manipur government arresting the black marketeers of petrol and diesel and punish them accordingly, representatives of Central government come and arrest them, which hurts the image of the government, the Cheif Minister replied, "Just see what the government does to the black marketeers of petrol, diesel and other petroleum products.

The Chief Minister also said that the Parliament session will begin from November 9.Therefore, the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi would be coming to Manipur by November 6 .

He said, as soon as she lands at Tulihal airport, she would be taken in a helicopter to Churachandpur district to inaugurate Khuga Multi Purpose Project.

Then she would come to Kangla by helicopter, and from Kangla she would come to the office of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee on BT Road, and then inaugurate the newly constructed shopping complex and unveil the statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Then she would inaugurate the three new market complexes.

Later, Sonia Gandhi will be accorded a grand welcome by the people at Mapal Kangjeibung.

Before the reception function starts, she will inaugurate the tribal market being constructed at Checkon and Minority Girls' Hostel at Hatta by using remote control.

After the programme, the UPA chairperson will unveil the foundation laying plaques for construction of Indira Gandhi Tribal University and Indian National Army Memorial Complex which will have parking space for about 400 vehicles and a lawn at an estimate cost of ' 25 crore on the spot itself.

The Minister of Tourism has allocated ' 25 crore for construction of the memorial complex as part of development of tourism in Manipur, the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister along with Works Minister K Ranjit, IFCD Minister, N Biren, TD & Vetrinary Minister, DD Thaisii, PDA Chairman Dr Kh Loken, Chief Engineer of PWD, Cheif Town Planner and other officials went round the newly constructed market complexes and inspected the progress.

The team also visited the tribal market being constructed at Checkon.

It is worth mentioning here that a decision at the government level was taken yesterday to change the names of the three market complexes.

The three new market complexes would be named as Khwai Nupi Keithel, Anouba Nupi Keithel and Kha Nupi Keithel.