Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

State ministers, MLAs honoured: New Delhi, Apr 26: Manipur Commerce and Industries Minister Yumkham Erabot, Chief Whip and Vice President of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee Tongbram Mangibabu, MLA and Chairman of MANITRON Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh, MLA K. Meghachandra Singh and MLA Awangbow Newmei from Manipur were among those personalities who were honoured with Bharat Excellence Award 2008 on Saturday at Indian International Centre here. The Friendship Forum of India organized the yearly event. The award carried a gold medal and a certificate. The award was given to them for their outstanding extraordinary achievement in their chosen field of activity and services rendered to promote greater friendship and India International cooperation. About 100 personalities from all over the country working in different fields like politics, medical, agriculture, art and culture etc were honoured today. On the occasion, the Minister and the four MLAs were also among those honoured with 'Nor...

Rebel MLAs return for Assembly session: Imphal, Jan 30: The dissident Congress MLAs who were lobbying with the party high command for a change in the state CLP leadership returned to Imphal on Wednesday, exuding confidence of a successful conclusion to their campaign to oust Okram Ibobi Singh in the near future. Barring MPCC chief Gaikhangam and minister DD Thaisii, all the dissident MLAs, 14 in number, flew into Imphal this afternoon on an Air India flight. The dissident MLAs came back in the state only to attend the budget session of the state Assembly which is due to commence on February 1 and their return does not mean an end to their campaign for replacing Ibobi as chief minister, said a source in the dissident camp. Before leaving the national capital, they submitted representations to the Congress high command urging to settle the crisis within the party at the earliest. The MLAs who have returned include FCS minister, Y Erabot Singh and Congress chief whip, Mangibabu. Other ML...

'Rebels' ready to give another push, Gaikhangam in Delhi: Imphal, Jan 7: The pressure being exerted by the rebel MLAs camping in New Delhi in pursuance of their demand for replacement of O Ibobi Singh as the chief minister of the state is likely to intensify as the rebels have started gathering at the national capital again. MPCC chief Gaikhangam reached the national capital on Sunday and two ministers, Y Erabot and DD Thaisii, are likely to join the camp within a few days, a source from the rebel camp said on Monday. A group of Congress legislators from the state, mention may be made, are demanding ouster of O Ibobi Singh from chief ministerial post and have been camping in New Delhi since November first week to press for their demands. They returned together for a brief period to Imphal and camped in here during the visit of the Union minister of state attached to the PMO during his visit to the state in the early part of December last year. Since then they have regrouped at ...

CM, Gaikhangam turn up, no Debendro: Imphal, Dec 28: The 122nd Foundation Day of the Indian National Congress was observed on Friday by the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, in the absence of several MLAs including some senior ministers, a reflection of the unresolved crisis in the Congress over the demand for replacement of Okram Ibobi Singh as chief minister. However, Okram Ibobi, and MPCC chief Gaikhangam, whom many observers see as the mastermind behind the rebellion in the Congress, were both present, sitting next to each other in all appearance of bonhomie. The pair shook hands before the gathering and were seen chatting amicably. Prominent absentees on the other hand included senior minister Th Debendro, tribal welfare minister DD Thaisii, and most of the other rebel MLAs. FCS minister Y Erabot was however present. The chief minister, in his address to the assembled party workers, said it was natural to have disagreements in a large family like the Congress, but at the same ti...

Chauhan leaves Imphal, no comments on regime change: Imphal, Dec 13: Union Minister of State and AICC general secretary north east in-charge Prithivi Raj Chauhan left Imphal on Thursday after concluding his three-day visit to the state, making no comments on the question of regime change which rebel Congress MLAs are demanding. Even though he refused to comment on the crisis, replying to questions raised by journalists at the concluding part of the inspection, Chauhan said, "I am satisfied with the works progress". However, he refused to comment on the main purpose of his visit to the state, the question of replacement of Ibobi as chief minister of Manipur. Officially Chauhan came to Imphal to inspect the status of the implementation of works taken up in the state with Central funds under the Prime Minister`s package. After his return to New Delhi he is scheduled to visit other states of the country where projects were taken up under the same package of the Prime Minister, an...

Chauhan arrives, starts one to one meet with CLP members: Imphal, Dec 11: AICC general secretary in charge of the North East and Union Minister of State in the PMO, Prithiviraj Chauhan who arrived at Imphal on Tuesday to get a first hand account of the revolt raised by some dissident Congress MLAs against the leadership of O Ibobi has started meeting the CLP members individually to hear their opinion. Chauhan who was deputed as an Observer by the AICC will submit his report on reaching Delhi. Chauhan along with Lok Sabha MP Dr T Meinya and executive member of the MPCC (I) L Manglem landed at Tulihal airport on Tuesday at 2 pm. The team was received by a large number of Congress men including MPCC (I) president Gaikhangam, Ministers, MLAs, party workers and members of the Seva Dal. On his arrival, Chauhan called on the Governor at Raj Bhawan along with Gaikhangam. After a short break at Raj Bhawan, Chauhan then proceeded to RIMS to look into the development works being taken up there. L...