IMPHAL, February 12: Imphal East District Minority Forum, Joint Committee on MsDP and Muslim Council, Manipur have jointly condemned the statement of Andro A/C MLA Th Shyamkumar which denied the misuse of Multi-sectoral Development Project funds at Andro Assembly Constituency.
In this regard, a joint press meet was held today at the Manipur Press Club, Imphal.
Convenor of the Joint Committee on MsDP, Wahidur Rehman said Rs 5 crores have already been sanctioned for the three assembly constituencies of Keirao, Kshetrigao and Andro from the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs for the development programmes and projects for Minority Concentrated Block (MCB) for valley districts of Manipur.
He maintained that for the three constituencies, only two were selected for the grant of Rs 68, 91000 to Kshetrigao and Rs 2,33,11,000 to Andro constituencies respectively.
It may be recalled here that the Andro A/C MLA Th Shyamkumar has always maintained that the Moirangpurel High School was constructed from the MsDP fund and the maximum number of students studying in the school were from a minority community, the Meitei Christians.
Lamenting the statement, Wahidur Rehman said MsDP funds were misused as the said fund is meant for Minority Concentrated Blocks where 25 percent of the population must be from minorities. He further said that the area in which Moirangpurel High School was built has only four families belonging to a minority community as per the 2011 census report.
He said the MsDP is under the supervision of the Imphal East DC, adding that the DC, M Joy is incompetent to execute the project and should be removed from his post. He also said that Andro A/C MLA Shyamkumar has always intervened in minority development projects.
He further stated that MsDP work programmes should not be intervened by any MLA and the action of MLA Shyamkumar is regrettable.
He also lamented that funds are yet to be released for the approved Keirao constituency.
He said a memorandum has already been submitted to Union Ministry of Minority Affairs and the concerned State officials.
On behalf of the participating bodies, he said, he was appealing the authorities to refrain from releasing funds for the construction of Moirangpurel High School until a proper investigation is conducted.
He further said that if the concerned authorities fail to appease the body then a strong form of agitation will be conducted in association with other civil organisations of the State.