Rahul strikes great rapport with cheering Churachandpur crowds

Manipur`s territorial integrity will never be altered: Rahul Gandhi

By M Kaimuanthang


Churachandpur, Apr 3 : The AICC (I) general secretary Rahul Gandhi addressed a large gathering of the public at Tuibuong Peace Ground to campaign for the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha election candidate Thangso Baite in particular and the Inner Manipur candidate Dr. Th Meinya in general (both from Congress I). Earlier, the Congress leader landed at the helipad adjacent to the ground on a chopper from Aizawl at about 12.50 pm.

Rahul Gandhi addressed an enthusiastic crowd who were keen to see him physically from close range on his maiden visit today.

Soon after landing at the helipad, Rahul came in the Gandhi family`s well known gait as the crowds shouted with jubilation as it was the first time they really saw him.

Slogans like, "Rahul Gandhi zindabad" (Long-live Rahul Gandhi) and "Congress zindabad" (Long-live Congress" rent the air as the old and infirm, youngsters and even small kids covering every inch of the ground and trying to get a momentary glimpse of the young Congress leader`s face.

Gandhi waved at the crowds as soon as he alighted from the chopper as the cheering crowds greeted him with a more pronounced shouting of slogans.

Coming up on the dais after receiving the formal welcome and presentations, he was seated between chief minister O Ibobi Singh and MPCC(I) president Gaikhangam.

Gandhi began his speech by saying "Chibai" while waving his hands, which was responded with a big applause and cheers.

In his speech, he said he had traveled the length and breadth of the north east including Manipur and felt as a part of their family and was struck by the beauty of the region. He said that the tiny state of Manipur has been given importance in all areas of development as the other states.

The culture and the moral values of the Manipuris occupy a pride of place, he said adding that the Congress government had taken up many measures to uplift the poor and disenfranchised people.

During the last five years, the Congress had taken up certain measures for ensuring that every person gets a hundred days of employment along with measures for the benefit of the farmers, he said. The Manipur government and the Central government are from the same party and by working in close association many more landmark achievements could be made, he added.

He further said the Manipur University had been converted into a Central university, Kangla fort had been given to the people while adding that certain measures had also been taken up for the care and support of HIV infected people in the state.

Stating that the stand of the Congress government over the territory of Manipur had always been very clear, he said the territorial integrity of Manipur would never be changed or altered.

He went on to say that he had seen so many people from Manipur going to New Delhi for further studies and other activities and they were all successful in their chosen line of activities.

Most of the district level MLAs and ministers apart from the present government`s MLAs and ministers were present at today`s function thus making the programme a highly successful one.

Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by L Farido, AICC(I) Manipur in-charge alongwith Major General (Retd) Ved Prakash, an observer. Altogether an estimated 40,000 people turned up at the rally though in the initial stages the gathering was smaller due to the over stringent security measures taken up by the SPG and NSG security personnel.

The programme organizing chairman T Phungzathang was seen closely monitoring the whole affair and even requesting the security personnel to be a little bit lenient. This yielded results a little later when the programme actually commenced and there was a rush of people on the ground.

T Phungzathang, during a review meeting of the programme at the DCCI president`s residence thanked all district MLAs, the public and the media for their cooperation and support.

Rebel-link slur on Congress

Imphal, March 25 : Two days after the AICC announced its candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur, the BJP today accused the Congress, which leads the coalition ministry in the state, of trying to get support of the militant groups in ceasefire with the government. 

“The Congress is taking support from ceasefire groups to win the two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur. The party wants power through the barrel of the gun,” the BJP secretary in-charge of Northeast, Chandrashekhar Rao, said during a news conference today.

The BJP leader also charged that Mani Charenamei, sitting MP who is seeking re-election from Outer Manipur, is a candidate “sponsored” by the Congress. The BJP is fielding its former candidate, D. Loli Adanee, who lost to Charenamei in the last election.

Charenamei won the last election as Independent with support from the United Naga Council (UNC), apex body of the Naga community in Manipur. This time he is contesting on a Peoples Democratic Alliance ticket. He also has the support of Independent MLAs Forum, comprising eight Independents from the hills. 

The AICC on Sunday night announced names of Thangso Baite, former Congress MLA, as the Outer Manipur candidate and sitting MP Thokchom Meinya Singh as the Inner candidate.

On being asked the basis of the charges, Rao said Charenamei had been supporting the Congress all along during the outgoing term. “The one example is Charenamei’s support to the Manmohan Singh government during the vote of confidence,” he said.

Stating that the AICC ignored Ibobi Singh and the Manipur PCC’s preference while issuing the party ticket, Rao said the committee had a “tacit understanding” with Charenamei. Baite was only a dummy, he added.

The BJP leader said the proof of the nexus between the Congress government in Manipur and the cease-fire groups was the free hand given to these groups in extortion and anti-social activities. 

Nineteen tribal militant groups have entered into a tripartite agreement on suspension of operations since last year. 

“The border is managed by the UPA government. Armed militants continue to sneak into Manipur from Myanmar, carry out anti-social activities and then cross over to Myanmar. The UPA government is not checking it,” Rao said.

He cited the case of yesterday’s killing of a businessman in Thangal Bazar of Imphal city as another example of “total failure” of the Congress government in Manipur. 

Unknown gunmen shot dead the proprietor of a radio and mobile handset store inside the shop in broad daylight and escaped.

In reaction, police gunned down two suspected militants one hour after the attack at a place not very far from the shop. Local residents accused the police of killing the two in a fake encounter.

Lobby for Cong ticket in Delhi

Imphal, March 04 : As the countdown for deciding Congress candidates in inner and outer Manipur Parliamentary constituencies nearing the ultimate juncture, the State Congress ministers and MLAs have begun to lobby for their respective candidates.

With the AICC Ticket Committee wherein Chief Minister, Ibobi and MPCC president, Gaikhangam, were also members convening a meeting over the selection of candidates for the inner and outer Manipur seats, the CM, MPCC President and Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing have left Imphal for Delhi today.

The choice of the committee will be obviously announced officially on March 5. However, Works Minister, K Ranjit, Education Minister, L Jayentakumar, IFCD Minister, N Biren, MLA Bijoy Koijam, MLA Dr Kh Ratankumar and MLA, O Landhoni have also took another flight to Delhi today.

According to source, the ministers and MLAs have been air dashing to Delhi to lobby for the Congress ticket to their respective candidate.

The contenders for Congress ticket in inner seats are incumbent MP, Dr T Meinya; former minister Abdul Salam; former Manipur Assembly speaker, Dr Maniruddin Sheikh; Singjamei AC MLA, Irengbam Hemochandra and former AIR News Editor, Seram Mangi.

Among them, sitting MP, Dr T Meinya and Singjamei MLA Irengbam Hemochandra are likely to be favoured, according to sources.

I Hemochandra may get the favour as AICC Secretary, Rahul Gandhi is reportedly making a choice to younger candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha election while Dr Meinya is expected to get the ticket as the AICC president Sonia Gandhi is weighing up preference to sitting MPs.

The state Ministers and MLAs have been flying to Delhi to lobby for the younger candidate, sources said.

Meanwhile, Dr Chaltonlien Amo and Khanthang Tonsing are said to have been given more weightage than others in the outer seat.

Sources also hinted that young ministers and MLAs of the state want Dr Amo get the Congress ticket.

AICC condemns killings of govt officials in Manipur

AICC condemned the killing of sub-divisional officer of Kasom Khullen, Dr Thingnam Kishan, his driver Aribam Rajen Sharma and staffer Yumnam Token, whose bodies were found near Taphou Kuki village in Senapati district. They had earlier been abducted..

CONDEMNING THE killing of innocent people in Manipur, the All India Christian Council (AICC) has appealed to all the tribes, and communities of the state, particularly the churches of all denominations to condemn the violence in the state and be involved in restoring the peace, harmony, law and order in the region.

AICC condemned the killing of sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Kasom Khullen, Dr Thingnam Kishan, his driver Aribam Rajen Sharma and staffer Yumnam Token, whose bodies were found near Taphou Kuki village in Senapati district after being abducted from Ukhrul a few days back.

Regional secretary of AICC and spokesperson of North East Support Centre and Helpline, Rev Madhu Chandra said, “The intention of the killing the MCS officials by the unknown persons is not clear.

Yet it could cause communal tension among the different communities of the state, particularly on the eve of general elections due in just few months. Whoever the killers may be, they are anti-people and deserve stringent punishment from the law.

Most important, all the communities must maintain peace and harmony and avoid any provocative propaganda.”

Reports say there is, on average, a killing of three persons each day.

This has left countless widows and orphans and is a grave concern for every citizen of the state. Recalling the role of every civil society, including the role of the churches and church bodies, is very crucial.

Dr Sam Paul, AICC national secretary of public affairs, said, “Wherever churches exist, they bring the community transformation.

I believe the body of Christ and the churches of Manipur still have a big role to bring the community transformation, peace, harmony, law, and order to the state.”

Dr Paul appealed to all the Christian churches and denominational bodies to organise mass prayer campaigns for the state and play the role in bringing the transformation just as Christianity in many parts of the world has brought the same.

Responding to chief minister O Ibobi Singh’s promise of Rs 10 lakhs to the bereaved family of the SDO and five lakh rupees to other victims, Dr Paul said, “Mr Ibobi should not cover failures with a money game.

He must act immediately to stop the gruesome killings of the innocent either by anti-social elements or any others.”