Imphal, December 28 2009: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has assured that to strengthen the functioning of local bodies in the hill areas, the election schedule of the District Councils would be finalised very soon.

Inaugurating the year-long celebration of the 125 years of establishment of Indian National Congress at the conference hall of Congress Bhavan here today as chief guest, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said that finalisation of the election schedule of the District Councils would be taken up for discussion during the meeting of the State Cabinet on December 30 .

Since there is already standing instruction as well from the Prime Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs and AICC president Sonia Gandhi to strengthen the local bodies, the election schedule of the District Council, such as date of polling and filing the nomination papers would be decided after a thorough discussion by the Cabinet, the Chief Minister informed.

Stating that the UPA Government at the Centre has been really concerned about the development of the Northeastern States, Ibobi observed that along with giving priority to under developed hill areas, the Congress party has been trying to bring all the communities to the same level.

So there has been no instances where the UPA Government has not listened to the State Government when it approaches for development projects and programmes which are reasonable, Ibobi said, adding that with the approval of the Prime Minister, efforts are already underway to launch a Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in the State.

On the issue of law and order problem in the State, the Chief Minister expressed concern over the suspension of the work on expansion of road from Airport to Churachandpur which resumed a couple of days back after following undue interference from some quarters.

Because of the law and order problem, a project which should take only two years to execute drags, thus retarding the pace of development in the State.

In order to tackle all these issues and problems, the position of the Congress party needs to be strengthened.

Veteran Congressman and Rajya Sabha MP Rishing Keishing, who also spoke at the occasion, while observing Congress party is a pride of India, however, expressed serious concern over some of the activities of the party today which would not have been encouraged by its founding members.

In order to make Congress a political party which is like and supported by all the communities, more and more developmental programmes and policies which would be beneficial to the people should be adopted, he suggested.

MPCC president Gaikhangam exhorted the party workers to pay attention towards making all the people to understand the activities that the Congress party and the Government led by it have done so far and those which would be taken up in future.

Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Dr Budhichndra, other Ministers, MLAs and leaders of frontal/cells of Congress party were also present at the inaugural function which was commenced with hoisting of the party flag by Gaikhangam.

The congregation also observed two minutes silence as mark of respect to 12 Congress workers who passed away during the current year, 2009 .

It is said that during the course of the year-long observance, efforts would be made to strengthen the position of Congress party through seminars, symposiums and workshops on various topics related to history and philosophy of Indian National Congress, past and present achievements and vision for the future.

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