Imphal, April 17 2010: Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Y Irabot has categorically said that the question of his quitting the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) ministry headed by Chief Minister O Ibobi lies with the All India Congress Committee (AICC) .

Addressing a press meet at his residence at Khurai Thangjam Leikai this morning, Minister Irabot said that he met with the President of Indian National Youth Congress (INYC), Rahul Gandhi two times this year, and had discussed matters regarding the department of Industry which is under his charge and development of the state.

He met Rahul Gandhi on appointment on February 11 last.

Rahul Gandhi sent for him and met him on April 12, he said.

The minister narrated that Rahul Gandhi attentively listened to his requests on the need to enlarge the Indo-Myanmar border trade as it is giving a lot of benefits to India.

He expressed confidence that the Centre would begin to translate his appeals into action soon.

Minister Irabot said that he also had discussion with Rahul Gandhi on the need to improve the state police force.

Affirming that the state force should be strengthened, he told the newsmen that the police misuse their powers.

While providing security even to persons who deserve, it is done with favoritism and nepotism.

While making arrest of persons, the police do it in such a way that they can make money out of it.

All these were discussed with Rahul Gandhi, Minister Irabo revealed.

He also told Rahul Gandhi that a large number of youths are recruited as security personnel in order to maintain law and order in Manipur.

But on the other hand, those, who pretend to be leaders, pour money to the armed gangs, and also misuse the police personnel during election time.

This will not help in maintaining law and order in the state, he told Rahul Gandhi, the Minister said.

He also told the INYC president that the people of Manipur have no more faith in the state police.

This is because the police are turning toward criminal consperencies.

There had been a number of incidents of extortion and killing in which police personnel were involved.

Because of this, the people cannot trust the police, he told Rahul Gandhi.

Further, the Minister narrated what he told Rahul Gandhi about the bond of brotherhood between the people of the hills and the plains that the two are inseparable brothers.

The Manipur Land Reform & Land Record (MLR & LR) Act needs to be enforced in the hill areas too so that the people of both hills and valley would live together with mutual love and understanding forever.

Why the hills people do not want the Act to be enforced in the hill districts must be found out and necessary amendments must be made.

If the people of the hills are aware that this is only for the betterment of the state, enforcing the Act throughout the state would not be that difficult, Minister Irabot said and added that inter-community marriages would also strengthen communal harmony.

On a question whether there are differences between Chief Minister O Ibobi and him, Minister Irabot said that even among the members of the same family, there are disagreements.

Congress is a big party.

Differences and disagreements are bound to exist in the party, Irabot said.

Being a Cabinet Minister of the state government, why he was castigating the state force, the Minister was asked, and he replied, "I am also a victim of theirs." What they said about weapons having been seized from his house, God is there to see, he said.

Asking the youth said to have been arrested by the police, the truth shall be known.

Rahul Gandhi sent for him only from that matter, Minister Irabot said.

On another question whether he was joining hands with other like-minded MLAs and party workers in an effort to correct the wrong-doings of the government, Minister Irabot replied that he did not join hands with anybody else on this issue.

As this is the issue on truth, the MLAs will come on their own.

This is not a game of numbers, he said.

What he was telling was not against the government.

The people of the state have been suffering to the extreme point.

This is only to relieve the suffering s and to bring about development.

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