Minister's comments irks CCpur body

Churachandpur, July 5 : Dejected over the statement made on the floor of the House yesterday by Works Minister K Ranjit regarding the status of Guite Road, Churachandpur District Students' Union (CDSU) today expressed surprise by terming the statement as 'irresponsible'.

The union took strong exception to 'the irresponsible statement made by the Works Minister K Ranjit on the floor of the Assembly for allegedly pretending to being unaware of the handing over of Guite Road to BRO which had already been discussed and approved by the Cabinet at CM's chamber on September 2, 2006 at 4 pm with Chief Minister himself in the chair,' said a statement issued by the union.

It also attached a copy of the said Cabinet proceedings that testify Th Debendra, Phungzathang Tonsing, Parijat Singh, Govindas Konthoujam, W Leima Devi and Allauddin Khan as (former) Ministers present and Chief Minister O Ibobi appending his signature.

Officers present as shown in the memo were Jarnail Singh and P Bharat Singh.

The proceedings further showed that the Cabinet discussed Manipur State Commission for OBCs Act, 2006 in its first agenda and the proposal for handing over Churachandpur-Singngat-Sinzawl-Tuivai road to BRO in its second (un-notified) agenda.

The decision then reads, 'discussed and approved to hand over the construction of Churachandpur-Singngat-Sinzawl-Tuivai road to the BRO'.

CDSU in its statement also mentioned of the Ministry of Defence, GOI in impressing the BRO/BRDB which already accepted to take over four roads in the State including Guite Road under GS funding.

Clearly peeved over the Minister's alleged statement, CDSU demanded clarification within three days and threatened to initiate social boycott of the Minister concerned if their demand is not fulfilled within the stipulated time.

It may be noted here that since 2006, the local populace here has been consistently demanding that Guite Road be handed over to the BRO, and the alleged statement of works Minister K Ranjit claiming that no Cabinet decision had ever been adopted in this regard has infuriated many.

Front pages of local dailies today were filled with the Minister's statement in response to a query from Thanlon MLA V Hangkhanlian, and the reservation raise by student leaders.