The House assembled at 11.00 am of Friday, the 15th July, 2005 in the Assembly Hall with the Hon’ble Speaker in the Chair. 

MEMBERS  PRESENT: 

            Hon’ble Chief Minister, 10 Cabinet Ministers, Chairman (Hill Areas Committee), 1 Minister of State and 45 Elected Members. 

QUESTIONS: 

(a)       Hon’ble  Minister (Education) made a reply to Starred Question No. 838, asked by  Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA regarding the contract employees of SCERT. 

(b)       Hon’ble Minister (Education) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 839, asked  by Shri N. Bihari Singh, MLA regarding the signature of A.P.R. of government  appointed cooks.           

(c)       Hon’ble Chief Minister gave a reply to Starred Question No. 840, asked by  Shri Erabot Yumkham, MLA regarding the enquiry instituted on the killing of  three Kuki students. 

(d)       Hon’ble Minister (Education) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 841 asked by  Shri Vivek Raj Wangkhem, MLA regarding the superannuation age and benefits  of Aided School Teachers.           

(e)       Hon’ble Chief Minister gave a reply to Starred Question No. 842, asked by  Shri S. Gopal Singh, MLA regarding the construction of Integrated Low Cost  Sanitation in Moirang Municipality area.           

(f)        Hon’ble Minister (Labour & Employment) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 843, asked by Shri M. Nilchandra Singh, MLA regarding the Indian Government sanction for payment of allowance to Registered Educated Unemployed Youths. 

(g)       Hon’ble Minister (Health) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 844, asked by  Shri S. Chandra Singh, MLA regarding the non-posting of doctors and staffs at Nongpok  Keithelmanbi P.H.C.           

(h)       Hon’ble Minister (Education) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 845, asked by  Shri Erabot Yumkham, MLA regarding the number of DIET centres opened in Manipur and its employees. 

(i)        Hon’ble Minister (Education) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 846, asked by  Shri N. Bihari  Singh, MLA regarding the number of schools included in the work  programme under P.M.G.Y for Khurai A/C.           

(j)        Hon’ble Minister (Education) gave a reply to Starred Question No. 847, asked by  Shri L. Ibomcha Singh, MLA regarding the constitution of Zone I Ward Education  Committee under SSA. 

(k)       Hon’ble Minister (Agriculture) gave a reply to Short Notice Question No. 4, asked  by Shri Ningthoujam Biren, MLA regarding the plantation of Awa Kege. 

ZERO HOUR: 

            During Zero Hour, Shri Vivek Raj Wangkhem, MLA drew the attention of the House regarding a chilling incident of the assault on Smt. L. Babita Devi and her sister on broad daylight which took place at Kongpal Kshetri Leikai under Porompat P.S. He expressed unhappiness on the inability to provide timely action by the Imphal East police. 

            Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, MLA drew the attention of the House on the critical situation due to the current economic blockade and requested the Hon’ble Chair to depute a delegation of MLAs to Senapati Headquarter to meet the ANSAM members. 

            Shri Ningthoujam Biren, MLA,  raised a matter regarding the shooting and causing bullet injuries to Lourembam Nongthangnganba of Uripok, brother of Lourembam Meraton alias Tiken, who died recently under mysterious circumstances at his second wife’s residence. He said that action should be taken against the persons arrested in connection with this incident.  

CALLING ATTENTION: 

            (i)        Shri R.K. Dorendra Singh, MLA, called the attention of the Chief Minister on the reported statement given by NSCN(IM) leader. He quoted the July 14th Sangai Express publication and said that the issue of greater Nagaland was more complicated at present. He also made reference to the talks of Th. Muivah with Karan Thapar in the Hard Talk programme of BBC and its ramification. Regarding the ongoing peace talks between the government of India and  NSCN(IM), he said that there was no transparency and the Manipur people were completely kept in the dark. He stated that keeping in view the various developments, the political motive of the NSCN(IM) became clear. Due to political implications on the present economic blockade, the situation worsened, he said and asked the government to solve the problem at the earliest. He stressed the need to assess the implications of the ongoing peace talks. He made an appeal to withdraw the demand for Greater Nagalim to bring about peace in the entire Northeast. He expressed the need to conclude the peace talks and solve the boundary disputes. He said that the government of Manipur should be informed regularly of the progress of the peace talks and that the state government should insist the centre to do so. 

            Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri O. Ibobi Singh replying to the motion said that keeping in view the present scenario, the reported statement would be verified. He informed the House that the state government was monitoring the progress of the peace talks. He cited the Common Minimum Programme of the UPA Government to safeguard the territorial integrity of the North East states. He expressed the need to bring about communal harmony in the state and said that territorial integrity should not be compromised at any cost. On some points raised by Shri R.K. Dorendra Singh, he said that serious attempts had been made to solve the present economic blockade impasse. The centre could be asked to inform the state government of any development of the ongoing peace talk, he said. 

(Hon’ble Chairman, Md. Abdul Salam adjourned the morning session at 1.05 p.m. till 2.00 p.m. of the day).

(The afternoon session resumed at 2.00 p.m. with the Hon’ble Speaker in the Chair). 

            (ii)       Shri S. Ibohal Singh, MLA called the attention of the Education Minister on the strike launched by the elementary school teachers. 

            Shri S. Ibohal Singh, qouting a news report of “Poknapham daily” published on 10 July, informed that JAC of Teachers would launch a strike from he 14th July demanding review of rationalisation and payment of salaries. The matter must be seriously considered and settled, lest the academic atmosphere should be affected, he mentioned. Further, he said that the Government had not paid salaries of Higher Secondary Lecturers due to non-completion of verification and drew the attention of the Minister to the non-payment of salaries for those High School teachers whose verification was over. He suggested for speedy completion of verification for averting further strike and streamlining the Education Department. 

            Shri Francis Ngajokpa, Minister (Education), replying to the Calling Attention Motion clarified that the agitating teachers were told to call off the strike in the interest of the students. He asserted that transfer and posting was a specific policy of the government for rationalisation of teachers and that the teachers should obey the government order. He observed that politicisation should not be involved in transfer and posting of teachers for attaining quality education. Regarding the matter of Higher Seondary School teachers, he said that they had been told to submit their relevant documents to the competent authorities for verification on July 15 and also that their salary would be given after verification. He said that the department would be streamlined if necessary.   

RAISING OF A MATTER WHICH IS NOT A POINT OF ORDER: 

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA raised a discussion on the appointment of Junior Engineers (Electrical) on contract basis in M.P.H.C. He alleged that one of the DPC members was a close relative of two selected candidates. He charged that there were nepotism, favouritism and corruption in the selection and proposed to review the selection procedure for bringing about justice.  

            Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri O. Ibobi Singh, replying to the discussion, clarified that the third member of the DPC was not a close relative of the two selected candidates and that the candidates were selected purely on the basis of merit. He further clarified that there were no question of nepotism, favoritism and corruption in the selection procedure. 

INTRODUCTION OF PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILL:           

            Shri I. Hemochandra Singh, MLA moved for leave to introduce the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reform (Amendment) Bill, 2005. 

            Shri Th. Debendra Singh, Minister (Revenue),  observed that a thorough examination of the bill was necessary before introducing it. He further said that a similar bill was passed in 1989 and submitted to the then Governor and that he declined assent on the ground that the approval the Hill Area Committee (HAC) was not taken and it was withdrawn from the House in 1990. He also observed that the bill would better be introduced by the Government after due consideration and consultation with HAC. 

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA, commented that due procedure for introduction of bill was followed and concurrence of the HAC was necessary only after introduction but not before introduction. He argued that no concurrence of HAC was necessary for giving leave for introduction. 

            S/Shri P. Parijat Singh, Minister (Agriculture) , L. Ibomcha Singh MLA, C. Doungel MLA and Dr. Nimaichand Luwang MLA expressed views. 

            Shri T. Phungzathang, Minister( Irrigation & Flood Control) expressed the view that the introduction of the bill was not timely at the present juncture of the state. 

            Shri Th. Debendra Singh, Minister (Revenue and Law and Legislative Affairs) said that a government bill after considering all pros and cons would be more appropriate. 

            As the mover of the Bill pressed for leave to introduce the Bill, the Hon’ble Speaker, Shri T.N. Haokip put to vote the motion for leave to introduce the Bill.  

            The motion was defeated by a voice vote. 

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ RESOLUTION: 

            (i)        Shri O. Joy Singh and Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLAs moved the following Private Member’s Resolution: 

            “This august House unanimously resolve to urge upon the Union Government for initiating a dialogue with the insurgent outfits of Manipur through the democratic process of plebiscite on the issue of the secession of Manipur from the Indian Union for bringing a lasting peace in the State of Manipur.” 

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA, initiating the resolution traced the historical background of the State of Manipur pointing out its distinct geographical boundary, the distinct genesis, culture, religion, folklore, script and administrative rules of its own. He commented that even after 56 years of Manipur’s merger with India, the people of Manipur had not attained political, economic and social justice as promised by the Union in the agreement. Since around 1980 armed struggle by insurgent groups came up for an independent Manipur, he said. He also observed that the response given by two insurgent outfits to the offer of peace dialogue of Dr. S.S. Sidhu, Governor of Manipur was a good sign and suggested that the Government should take up steps for holding peace talks with the underground outfits. 

            Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, MLA, co mover of the Private Member’s Resolution recounting a history of Manipur observed that Manipur had been a sovereign country since time memorial having  a distinct history, boundary and culture of its own, he asserted. He said that there was dissatisfaction in the minds of the youths of Manipur that Manipur was annexed to the Indian Union by signing the Merger Agreement on 21st September 1949. He asked how far the provisions of the Article of the merger agreement had been fulfilled for the people of Manipur and wanted a separate reservation for the Manipuris in Central Services. All our present issues including law and order problem in the state were related to Merger Agreement and insurgency movement, he added.  He said that the government should not remain silent in such a situation and that these issues must be settled through dialogue with the insurgents. He said that the recent response from two insurgent group to the appeal of Dr. S.S. Sidhu, his Exellency, the Governor of Manipur, should be considered by the  government for restoring peace and tranquillity in the state. 

            Hon’ble Chief Minister, Shri O. Ibobi Singh , replying to the Private Members Resolution  said that the past governments made many appeals to the insurgents for holding dialogues with no result. He mentioned the case of Mizoram which became a peaceful state in the NE after dialogue with the government of India. It would be quite necessary of the religious leaders, NGOs’ leaders, Members of both Ruling and Opposition to make an appeal to the insurgents for a peaceful negotiation, he said. He was of the opinion that people were fed up with insurgent movement in Manipur. Regarding the response along with some conditions from the UNLF and RPF to the appeal made by the Governor of Manipur, he ruled out its possibility on the ground that plebiscite would be impracticable and that the dialogue should be confined only within the ambit of the Constitution of India. He appealed to all the insurgent groups to come forward for dialogue. 

            Shri C. Doungel, MLA participating in the discussion observed that the most important thing was to start the dialogue process. 

            Shri O. Joy Singh, MLA moved a modified version of the Resolution. 

            Hon’ble Chief Minister said that the modified version was acceptable for passing by the House. 

            The House adopted the following Resolution: 

“ In the wake of the appeal made by His Excellency, the Governor of Manipur and its response in this regard, this august House unanimously resolve to urge the Union Government for initiating a dialogue with the insurgent groups of Manipur with reference to the secession movement in Manipur for bringing a lasting solution and peace.” 

            (ii)       Shri B.D. Behring, MLA  moved the following resolution: 

   “This august House, therefore, resolve to urge upon the Central Government, Ministry of Home Affairs to review the present PAP & RAP (Protected Area Permit and Restricted Area permit)  system so as to provide free access of the tourist.”

            Shri B.D. Behring, MLA highlighted the prospect of tourism in the State and said that due to the imposition of PAP & RAP system in Manipur by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the economic development of Manipur could not make much headway. He expressed the desire to develop tourism infrastructures for generating more revenues of the State. He wanted the Home Ministry to review the PAP & RAP system for its lifting from the state of Manipur. 

            Shri Govindas Konthoujam, Minister (Tourism) replying to the Private Member’s Resolution clarified that funds had been earmarked for the tourism development in Manipur since the inception of SPF Government. He said that tourism as an industry had great employment potential. Regarding the imposition of PAP & RAP system in Manipur, he said that the Government had apprised the Centre for lifting it and added that the Ministry of Home Affairs had sought views and comments from the Government of Manipur in this regard. He informed the House that a reply had been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs on 24 May, 2005 and also informed that the Governor of Manipur, too, had apprised the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for lifting PAP & RAP system from the State. 

            The Hon’ble Speaker observed that PAP & RAP was meaningless in the context of the “ Look East” Policy of the Centre. 

            The House adopted the following Resolution: 

“This august House unanimously resolve to urge the Union Government, Ministry of Home Affairs for total lifting of  the present PAP & RAP ( Protected Area Permit and Restricted Area permit) system from the State of Manipur in view of the “Look East” policy of the Union Government.” 

INTRODUCTION OF BILL: 

            Shri Th. Debendra Singh, Minister (Law and Legislative Affairs), moved for leave to introduce the Salaries and Allowance of Members of the Legislative Assembly (Manipur) Seventeenth Amendment Bill, 2005. 

            The House granted leave. 

And the Bill was introduced. 

            Hon’ble Chairman, Dr. M. Nara Singh adjourned the House at 6.05 p.m till 11.00 a.m of Monday, the 18th July, 2005.