IMPHAL, December 18: The Bharatiya Janata Party, Manipur has today appealed to the government on behalf of the state’s public to extend the ongoing winter session of the Assembly by one more day and discuss the burning issues of the Indo- Myanmar border fencing and the Inner Line Permit System.
Questioning the feasibility of a two day Assembly session, when there are several issues confronting the state, the BJP demanded clarification from the CM on the short session.
Addressing a press conference at the party’s head office at Nityaipat Chuthek today, state president, Thounoujam Chaoba declared the two day assembly session as inappropriate, considering the issues confronting the state at the moment.
He further lamented that the Assembly will conclude with an agenda of a proposed pay hike for the MLAs, without a single discussion on any of the burning issues.
Other than the BJP and the Manipur Peoples’ Party, all other political parties of the state had jointly made an ‘All-political party’ delegation and visited the national capital to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister, he claimed.
The PM had in his reply assured that no land of the state will be lost to Myanmar; while the Union home minister had said that the fencing will be stopped at once, until a joint survey is conducted, he continued.
Even after the survey has been conducted, it remains a fact that the state has lost land to Myanmar due to the fencing, he continued before adding that certain news reports were also published today that the border fencing has continued even after the assurance of the union minister to stop it.
Recalling a question made by then MLA Ibomcha during an Assembly sitting on July 15, 2002, regarding the missing pillars, the state BJP president said that the CM, while acknowledging that certain pillars are missing, had also said that the state Home department has already urged the joint secretary, North East, Ministry of Home Affairs, Surendrakumar to do the needful.
Okram Ibobi Singh who was also the then CM had further said that a joint survey including both the Indian and Myanmar governments was being conducted , and trying to erect the missing border pillars at the earliest.
He further charged the CM of misleading the then Assembly, for which the CM should clarify before the public.