IMPHAL, November 4: Following severe criticism and rebuke from all quarters of the society over the recent serial blast in the state capital, the state Chief Minister today convened a meeting with leading civil society organizations of the state to discuss the issue.
During the meeting which lasted 45 minutes, the state Chief Minister had urged the CSOs to make some sort of appeal to all concerned against such violence and terror at crowded places; and also appealed for peace and harmony.
“Chief Minister of Manipur O Ibobi Singh on Monday sought cooperation from major civil society organisations in the state Government’s effort to maintain law and order”, said a Newmai News Network news report.
The Chief Minister is understood to have appealed to the leaders of the social organisations to do their part to tackle the law and order situation in the state in the meeting, the news report read.
The meeting was attended by KT Rahaman advisor AMUCO; Nabachandra president UCM; Y Mani Khuman president AMUCO among other leaders of CSOs, sources said.
Sources also said that the meeting was preceded by a formal invitation to the CSOs from the CM.
Further during the meeting, the CSO leaders are also believed to have placed some opinions on the Manipur Land Revenue Act (MLR Act) in the hill areas which are now implemented in the valley.
In reply to the suggestion of the CSO leaders, the CM had said that the state government is presently mulling on the feasibility of implementing the MLR Act in both the hills and valley districts of the state, but also observed that there are certain disadvantages in implementing the act in the present situation of the state, the source informed.
The leaders urged the Chief Minister to facilitate implementation of Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act, 1960 (MLR & LR Act) in the hill, it said. Ibobi told the leaders of the civil bodies to wait for some more time because towards that end, the state Government needs to take important decision, the source further said, the Newmai News Network added.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister O Ibobi, taking advantage of the meeting with the CSO leaders also sought their opinion on lifting the Dry State status from the state so as to generate some resource for the state, however, the CSOs remained silent on the issue.
The meeting was also attended by other leaders of the All Manipur United Clubs Organization (AMUCO), United Committee Manipur (UCM), National Identity Protection Committee (NIPCO), International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA).