IMPHAL, April 16: Imposing bandhs and blockades will not bring any solution to any demand, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said during the formal observation of the year-long 125th Birth Anniversary of Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar at the Congress Bhawan today.
He asserted that sitting together and discussing the matter alone can bring any amicable solution.
Reacting to the recent agitations of the VDF personnel, the Chief Minister said their demands are genuine and the government is considering them, however, they need to cooperate with the government as materialising the demands would take some time.
He further appealed to all against imposing bandhs and blockades to make demands.
Ibobi also appealed to the people to cooperate and not to hamper or obstruct the construction work at Tombisana High School as it is to provide vending space to the women vendors who have no proper spaces.
Construction at the works site had been stopped for some time ever since human skulls and skeletons were recovered from the site.
Speaking further, he said considering demands from several sections of the society including NGOs, students`™ bodies and other civil organisations to hand over the investigation of the skull recovery case to the CBI, the State cabinet had discussed the demand and sent a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the issue.
Unfortunately, the MHA replied a few months back in the negative, the Chief Minister announced.
However, the government is ready if the organisations want to take the case to any other independent agency, he said.
Further addressing the observation, the Chief Minister said the people should not forget the pioneers who had drafted the Indian Constitution.
The Chief Minister also said that India is the world`™s largest democracy.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam said that being born in a lower class family, Dr Ambedkar has always opposed the system that favours discrimination. The rights, that the people of the country enjoy today through the Constitution is all because of Dr Ambedkar, he said.
Dr Ambedkar is well-educated person and having faced various humiliations at different stages of his life he took up the challenge to correct the social evils of caste system.
Gaikhangam said the caste system is not so inherent in the Manipuri society as it is in mainland India.
During the observation, floral tributes were offered to the leader as well as prizes were distributed to the winners of a quiz and essay competition which was earlier held on April 13 at the Standard Robert School.
MPs, MLAs, minister and others also attended the function.