IMPHAL, June 2: Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi is yet to give an appointment to an all-party delegation from Manipur the first batch of the delegation would be leaving Imphal tomorrow for New Delhi.
The delegation will raise the issue of three anti-migrant bills pending with the central government, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said to media persons while on a visit to Thoubal.
The three bills passed by the state assembly on August 31, 2015 ran into a controversy as strong objections were raised by the tribals who maintain that these are “anti-tribal” while its supporters say that there is nothing in them which are against any indigenous peoples.
“If there is anything against any community, the bills could be amended,” said the chief minister.
When asked about the delay in getting the appointment Okram Ibobi said, “The Prime Minister has to face many issues and problems for the whole country and not Manipur alone. It is possible that for the time being he has no time. Besides he will be going on a foreign tour. The delegates shall camp in Delhi and will meet with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister whenever appointments are given.”
The chief minister further said: “During the North Eastern Council meeting at Shillong, I had conveyed to Modi the plan of the political parties to call on him.” However he did not divulge what reply the Prime Minister had given.
Meanwhile, representatives of five political parties have complained that they have not been invited to join the New Delhi bound all political delegation although they were invited for consultations.
The parties are state units of All India Forward Bloc, Bahujan Samaj Party, Revolutionary Socialist Party, National Democratic Peoples’ Front, and CPI (ML) Liberation.
AIFB state secretary Kh Gyaneshore said he had attended the all political party meeting held on May 9 morning around 9 at the Chief Minister’s office chamber chaired by the CM himself.
He continued during the meeting when it was tabled that a political delegation including two representatives each of 16 political parties should visit the national capital for the purpose, it was decided that two representatives each would be too many and only one representative each should be included in the political delegation.
The BSP was represented by its president N Kabita Devi in the all political party meeting, RSP was represented by leaders N Ratan and K Manoranjan, NDPF was represented by its president G Tonsana Sharma and the CPI (ML) Liberation was represented by Sapam Samungou.
A joint statement issued by AIFP state secretary Kh Gyaneswor, BSP state president Kabita Devi, CPI (ML) Liberation state secretary S Samungou and RSP Manipur secretary N Ratan said during the May 9 meeting at the CM’s secretariat, it was resolved to submit a memorandum regarding the issues surrounding the ILP to the Prime Minister and the President of India; however, till date, the political parties which had attended the meeting haven’t been shown any draft of the memorandum prepared.
It said all of a sudden it has been announced that a team will be leaving on June 3 to meet the national leaders.
The statement said that the team will be leaving on June 3 is not of the all political parties, but a handful of the Chief Minister’s puppets.
It said all the political parties that had attended the May 9 meeting haven’t been informed of the visit.