GoI-IM Deal: Union Home Ministry Presents 6-Point Proposal To Ibobi

Toss up between 6th Schedule, more autonomy, Constitutional amendment 

New Delhi/Imphal, October 22 2012: One day after meeting Union Home Minister Shushil Kumar Shinde on October 20 at New Delhi, an official from the Union Home Minister presented the six point draft proposal to Chief Minister O Ibobi at Manipur Bhawan yesterday morning.

The six point draft proposal pertains to the settlement which is reported to be close at hand after a prolonged political dialogue between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) .

Though nothing official has come out as yet, sources from the Home Ministry said that some of the probable alternatives for working out a settlement could hinge around 'more autonomy', 'amendment of the Indian Constitution,' and 'areas to be administered under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution' .

During the meeting on October 9 at New Delhi, the Union Home Minister had reportedly asked the Chief Minister, "What is the harm in giving Alternative Arrangements to the Nagas" .

According to Union Home Ministry sources, a draft proposal has been prepared and the same has been placed before the Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.

(Map of NE India) Gogoi of Assam; Ibobi of Manipur and Tuki of Arunachal Pradesh

The final approval or rather the stamp of agreement by the Chief Ministers of the three States will be the key to the solution being sought, said the sources.

Significantly this is the first time that the Chief Minister of Manipur has been taken into confidence in the long, drawn out process of the peace talk with the IM group since 1997 .

The draft proposal was however prepared without consulting the State Government.

It is only the approval that is being sought.

In 2001 when the 'without territorial limits' clause was inserted in the peace talk, the Government of Manipur was not consulted.

Nine years later, in 2010, the State Government too was not consulted, when the Centre gave the go ahead signal to the proposal that Th Muivah visit his birth place at Somdal.

The Home Ministry sources however brushed aside any question of time frame and refused to say when the final outcome is expected to come.

On the other hand, Chief Minister of Manipur could not be reached for comment.

Officials at Manipur Bhawan in Delhi informed that he is no longer in the capital city.

Though the Chief Minister is reported to have put up a strong case for the territorial integrity of Manipur, no other details of the meetings with the Union Home Ministry are available.

Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal
------------------------------------

I was misquoted: Mary Kom

Jiribam, October 22 2012: Boxer Mary Kom has today clarified that the State media have no 'discriminatory attitude' toward her while also admitting that she received tremendous support from the media, Government and people of State.

Mary Kom was addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club hall today.

Her clarification came a day after sparking ruckus over her reported comment against the State media at Aizawl.

The comments were carried by various national media and agencies apart from Mizoram's local papers.

The pugilist explicated that she was 'misquoted' by the media while also clarifying that she did not comment that she has been 'facing discrimination' from the State media as well as the people and Government.

Mary Kom acknowledged that she received immense support from the State media as well as the people and the Government and there is no 'discrimination' against her.

It was unfortunate that the media had misquoted her, Mary Kom said while adding that fitting action would be initiated in consultation with media experts.

Source: The Sangai Express
------------------------------------

Inferno razes 11 shops, ten houses to the ground at Kwakeithel

Imphal, October 22 2012: Goods worth around Rs 24 lakhs were destroyed today when an inferno ravaged 11 shops and 10 houses at Kwakeithel Ningthemkol Leikai this morning.

According to Manipur Fire Service Sub Inspector Nabachandra Laishram, the fire broke out at about 4 am and it reduced 11 shops belonging to one Takhellambam Shantikumar to cinders in no time.

It also ravaged 10 rented houses.

It is suspected that the fire broke out either from a leaked LPG cylinder or electric short circuit from a chicken centre.

Fire tenders reached the spot at 4.20 am and it took them more than one hour to bring the raging fire under control.

As the shops and rented houses were located in close proximity, around six LPG cylinders too exploded in succession.

Fire raging at Kwakeithel and the remains of the hut at Jiri

The shops located in the area included photo studio, chicken centre, stationery stores, motor vehicle workshops, computer centres, hair cutting saloon, metal scrap collection centre etc.

It is reported that goods worth around Rs 24 lakhs kept in the rented houses were destroyed by the inferno.

Around 20 Fire Service personnel struggled for more than a hour using five fire tenders to douse the raging fire, Nabachandra added.

Source: The Sangai Express
------------------------------------

In pix:

14 shops gutted, goods worth Rs 24 lakh destroyed

Source: Hueiyen Lanpao