IMPHAL, Mar 11: The leader of opposition Radhabinod Koijam has today pointed out flaws in the Governor’s address given at the 10th Session of the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly saying that the important aspect of sorting out ways and means to bring a permanent solution to the prolonged armed conflict of the state was left out in the Governor’s address.
Speaking at the discussion of Governor’s address on the motion of thanks, Radhabinod stated that Manipur has constantly retarded in all aspects and as a result women and children have indulged in several crimes including lobbing grenades, serving demand letters and extortions.
He further said that guns cannot bring peace to the state and detention under NSA will not serve the purpose of bringing solution to the prolonged armed conflict. The government should strongly instruct the SoO signatory groups not to indulge in extortion and murder cases, Radhabinod enjoined.
The leader of opposition also stated that the state government should also try to have talks with major valley-based insurgent groups. The permanent to this issue can be brought only through political dialogues.
Moreover, the government should take serious note of Sharmila’s struggle for the repeal of AFSPA which has now become an international issue of human rights. The Governor’s address should have envisaged such intense issues of the state, he averred.
Radhabinod also maintained that the Chief Minister should try to bring permanent peace in the state and bring about reforms in the political system of the state.
On the other hand, V Hankhalian stated that the Governor’s address did not mention much about the power of local self-government bodies.
Dr I Ibohanbi contended that the Governor’s address should be amended with proper emphasis on health care facilities and education.
Replying to the motions of amendment raised by the MLAs with regard to Governor’s address, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi stated that the state government will try its best to bring permanent to the armed conflict of the state by having talks with all insurgent groups of the state.
He also said that the state government is planning to decentralize the local self-government bodies in view of ensuring proper administration to the people of the state.
Later, the opposition MLAs withdrew their motion for the amendment of the Governor’s address and it was unanimously passed by all the members of the House.
