Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

Ibobi wants to develop Moirang Imphal: Let's strengthen Congress party all the more by winning both seats of the Lok Sabha in the coming general elections, Chief Minister O Ibobi said. He was speaking at a function held at the Congress Bhavan to felicitate Mairembam Prithviraj who just won the by-election of Moirang assembly constituency held on December 27 . Expressing happiness on the success of Prithviraj, Chief Minister Ibobi thanked the electorate of Moirang AC for having voted for Prithviraj, son of the late MLA M Manindra. The people of Moirang have shown that they have full confidence in Congress party for which he and the party would ever remain grateful, he said. Moirang AC is a historical place and the government would do everything possible to develop the place. All that the late MLA had thought of developing Moirang AC, now Prithviraj would be made to complete, the Chief Minister said. He also thanked the minority Muslim community of Moirang AC for having supported the...

Centre had provided intelligence to Assam: Chidambaram Guwahati, Jan 2: Refusing to blame intelligence failure for the serial blasts in Guwahati, Home Minister P Chidambaram today said that Assam police had acted "swiftly and decisively" on the inputs provided by the Centre but was "unlucky" to have missed the culprits. "Assam police nearly apprehended him (one of the blast suspects). A little bit of luck evaded Assam Police. I am sure next time Assam Police will be lucky," Chidambarm told reporters here. Chidambaram said the Centre had intelligence inputs which were passed on swiftly to the state. He disagreed that the blast occurred due to intelligence failure. "Assam police acted swiftly and decisively" but were unlucky not to apprehend the culprits, Chidambaram said in reply to a question. Chidambaram said riverine police should be set up in Assam along Brahmaputra. Asked whether the blasts were the result of intelligence failure, Assam Chief...

Fitting tributes paid to martyrs: Imphal, Apr 23: Khongjom Day was observed today in commemoration of the brave fight put up by the soldiers of Manipur to against the British imperialist in 1891 along with offering Tarpan and paying befitting tributes to Paona Brajabashi, the chief army commander of the Manipuri forces and numerous other soldiers who laid down their lives for the sake of safeguarding the sovereignty of their motherland. Governor Dr SS Sidhu and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh led the people in paying homage at the memorial of the martyrs located at Khongjom Kheba hillock in Thoubal district as well as in offering floral tributes to the statue of Paona Brajabashi installed at the foothill of Kheba. A contingent of the Manipur Rifles gave the guard of honour, general salute, reverse arms, slope arms, order arms and gun salute amidst trumpeting of the last post. The observance function was organised by the Government of Manipur. In his address as chief guest of the function,...

NE CMs to oppose move: Shillong, Apr 21: The meeting of North Eastern Council (NEC) scheduled in Agartala on May 12 will be a forum for the eight Chief Ministers of the North Eastern States to oppose the proposed abolition of DONER Ministry. This disclosure was made by Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr.Donkupar Roy during his interaction with media persons in Shillong on Monday. Dr.Donkupar Roy, who earlier told the Meghalaya Assembly that the state is against the proposed abolition of the DONER ministry said, "Meghalaya is opposed to the proposed idea of wrapping up of the ministry created for the benefits of the North Eastern region". Informing about the Chief Ministers of the North Eastern states who are already in touch with each other to work out on a resolution to oppose the idea of doing away with DONER, Roy said, the next conclave of North East chief ministers will jointly pass a resolution to show our protest against the mooted proposal. The Meghalaya Chief Minister also m...

'Leader' snubs, rebels fume: Imphal, Jan 27: In what could be a significant gesture, Law and Legislative Affairs Minister Th Debendra who is being projected by the dissident Congress MLAs as their leader has snubbed the rebel camp. With Debendra refusing to heed the call to come to Delhi on Sunday and instead go to Jiribam, the rebel MLAs are literally fuming. In the back drop of the new development, the rebel MLAs have convened an emergency meeting on Monday. Some senior leaders of the dissident group noted that the failure of Thoudam Debendra to respond to the call of the AICC to come to Delhi is tantamount to humiliating and betraying the rebel MLAs. "He will certainly reap the outcome of his act of betrayal very soon," they asserted. The alleged act of Debendra to concede to the reported enticement of the Chief Minister with the portfolio of Finance Minister and various other benefits amount to cheating the people of Manipur, the rebel MLAs fumed. The Law Minister...

Student body denied audience: Imphal, Jan 11: Manipur Students' Association, Delhi (MSAD) has decried conduct of the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh for turning down the appointment granted even after making its delegates to await from 10 am to 5.30 pm on Friday. The delegates have reportedly gone to meet the Chief Minister to discuss the issues related to the problems being faced by the students in the light of the recent molestation of two girl students from Manipur at the National Capital. In a statement, the student body observed that recurrence of the incidents of molestation and harassing of Manipuri students at the National Capital has shown that there is no one to protect them. If the Chief Minister of Manipur himself does not respect the students of the state then who is going to respect them?, it questioned. The student body, however, expressed its gratitude to MLA Oken and MLA Bijoy Koijam for visiting their victims at their Gandhi Vihar rented house and extending their mor...

Sharmila refuses regular feeding: Imphal, Jan 2: Irom Chanu Sharmila has reportedly refused regular nasal feeding since December 17 a day after the Pourabi bomb blast. According to a statement issued by the Human Rights Alert, its executive director called on the hunger striker on December 31 during which Sharmila recounted images of the blast victims when brought to the JN Hospital and her subsequent refusal to forgo all artificial feedings into her body. Informing that only after insistence by the hospital authorities she accepted at least one feeding a day against the normal dose of five, the rights body conveyed that Sharmila had actually desired to meet the Chief Minister. With the CM not turning up, Sharmila endured the minimal feeding for over two weeks and had become visibly weak and lost considerable weight, said the HRA release. Quoting sources, the HRA informed of the Chief Minister calling on Sharmila on January 1 afternoon but conceded that it has no information. Sharmila,...

Dr Sidhu greets people: Imphal, Dec 31: On the occasion of New Year's Day 2008, Governor Dr SS Sidhu has conveyed best wishes to the people of Manipur. In his message, the Governor said that New Year's Day is not only an occasion for introspection but also for searching and evolving new resolutions for the coming year. Dr Sidhu also wished every one a new year full of peace, happiness, contentment, progress and prosperity. Greeting the people on the occasion of New Year's Day, Chief Minister O Ibobi called upon all to make a firm resolution to fight and defeat the evil designs of divisive and disruptive forces. The Chief Minister further appealed to the people to join hands in the noble task for restoring peace and prosperity in Manipur. MPCC president Gaikhangam wished that the New Year may bring about peace, harmony and prosperity for all. "Let violence and conflict give way to love and peace in the State with the arrival of 2008," said Lok Sabha MP Dr T Meinya ...

CM condoles: Imphal, Dec 27: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has joined the people of the state in condoling the demise of international cyclist Huidrom Tombisana who succumbed to injuries at a Tamil Nadu Hospital on December 25. The CM in his condolence message described Tombisana as one of the best women cyclists and 'her demise is an irreparable loss to the entire sporting community of the state and the country’. Ibobi also shared the grief of the bereaved family and conveyed prayer for peaceful rest of her soul in the heavenly abode. Tombisana met with a fatal accident at Erode on December 22 while practising for the 13th National Road Race Cycling Championship which began at the southern state on Thursday. Her body was brought to Imphal Airport on Wednesday where sportspersons of the state in large numbers received tearfully. A regular medal winner in her favourite event in both the national and international level since venturing into the sports discipline at a young age, Tombis...

CM calls for saving ponies: Imphal, Dec 27: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Thursday strongly advocated contributions from all sections of the society in ensuring survival of the endangered Manipuri ponies. Inaugurating the National Tent Pegging Championship at Imphal Pologround, the Chief Minister recalled history of the erstwhile kingdom of Manipur wherein rulers strived for protecting the ponies as the animal species had been associated with the role in protecting and expanding the kingdom. Stating that Manipur has history of State support to equestrian games, the chief guest of the inaugural programme also reminded that kings in the past ensured that polo remained a people's sports which automatically entailed wellbeing of ponies. Besides recounting exploits of sportspersons of Manipur in various sports disciplines, he also maintained that as a part of the State Government's determination to save the indigenous ponies from extinction 30 acres of land at Lamphelpat had b...

Peace, festivity mark birth of Lord Jesus: Imphal, Dec 25: Christmas is being celebrated in Manipur on Tuesday with festive gaiety. The houses were decorated with colourful stars and singing of Christmas carols can be heard in every streets. Special Christmas games, sports, cultural programmes were organised in every parts of the state. Governor Dr S S Sidhu in a message said, ''Lord Jesus -- the son of God, was born to build a new world based on peace, justice and equality of mankind. In celebrating his birth, we, besides paying our obeisance to this outstanding apostle of peace, have to rededicate ourselves to the ideals, principles and eternal values espoused by him.'' Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh said, “The birth of Christ on this earth heralds peace, goodwill and love among mankind and also between the mankind and the Almighty God. Every person who believes in God irrespective of caste, creed and religion should be a messenger of peace, goodwill and love.'...

Ibobi calls for regional bamboo policy: Imphal, Dec 19: The Manipur chief minister has urged the Union Ministry of Development of North East Region that a bamboo plan should be executed to increase the value addition of the bamboo resources available in north eastern region, NER through a farmer friendly regional policy, an official said Wednesday. While urging the DoNER, Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh, who was participating in the North Eastern Council, NEC meeting at New Delhi, stated that the National Institute of Rural Development, NIRD has also recommended the need for special attention to the poor among the non-agricultural sector, particularly among the artisans and handloom weavers and small traders. The two day meeting which discussed the plan size of the NEC for the next five year plan concluded yesterday. About 17.1 percent of households in Manipur, 8.9 percent in rural and 27.8 percent in the urban, depend on non-agricultural sector for their livelihood. "There i...

‘Rebels’ leave for Delhi: Imphal, Dec 15: To continue their political camp at Delhi, twelve rebel MLAs left Imphal on Saturday. Staying there, the rebel MLAs will be insisting upon AICC leaders including North East in-charge Prithiviraj Chauhan to remove O Ibobi from the post of Manipur Chief Minister. The MLAs who left for Delhi on Saturday include Govindas Konthoujam, T Mangibabu, Dr Kh Ratankumar, W Brajabidhu, I Hemochandra, L Nandakumar, M Hemanta, M Oken, M Manindra, Y Surchandra, Meghachandra and Bijoy Koijam. AICC North East in-charge Prithiviraj Chauhan who noted opinions of the both the dissident camp and supporters of Chief Minister O Ibobi during his visit to the State recently will be submitting his report to the AICC high command on his arrival at Delhi from Karnataka. Before Prithiviraj Chauhan submits his report, the dissident MLAs will be making a final push to change the CLP leadership. The persisting campaign of the rebel MLAs to oust O Ibobi from being Chief Ministe...

Govt. to observe Nupi Lan Day: Imphal, Dec 11: As in the previous years, Government of Manipur would be observing Nupi Lan Day at Nupi Lan memorial complex here on Wednesday. The function would begin from 9 am on Wednesday and it would be attended by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Education Minister L Jayantakumar Singh as chief guest and president respectively. Paying homage to all those brave Manipuri women who sacrificed their lives during Nupi Lan and presentation of Nupi Lan drama to be enacted jointly by the artistes of Nupi Lan Memorial Association and Khongjom War Memorial Society would be the main highlight of the observance. The opening song and the closing song of the observance function would be presented by the artistes of Shri Bal Mukunda Dev Government Music College, Imphal. The State Government has issued an order asking all those who would be coming to attend the function not to bring any brief case or hand bags. Posted On: The Sangai Express Related Story: