Fuming opp. leaders to skip Manipur meet

IMPHAL, January 19: The Manipur Democratic Front has decided to boycott the all-party meeting convened by Speaker Sapam Dhananjoy tomorrow in protest against the allegedly disparaging remarks made by chief minister W. Nipamacha Singh. The meeting has been convened to discuss the possibility of resuming the winter session of the Assembly, which was adjourned sine die on December 1. Opposition leaders are still fuming over Nipamacha Singh's remark that he does not like the company of legislators from "smaller parties". The chief minister said so in defence of his decision to boycott a meeting convened by the Speaker on December 15. "How can we attend any meeting with Nipamacha when he does not want to discuss issues with a section of Opposition leaders?" MDF spokesperson O. Joy Singh asked here today. Joy Singh said the MDF, comprising all major Opposition parties, would attend tomorrow's meeting only if Nipamacha Singh apologised for his "unparliamentary" remarks. "All legislators are equal in the Assembly and everyone must be treated with respect. How can we condone what the chief minister has said?" Joy Singh asked. The MDF leader said Nipamacha should apologise soon or accept the fact that no Opposition leader would participate in any discussion with him. However, Joy Singh clarified that the MDF was not against the Speaker's move to reconvene the winter session of the Assembly. Dhananjoy adjourned the winter session sine die on December 1 after admitting a no-confidence motion against the Nipamacha Singh-led United Front of Manipur ministry. The Speaker's ruling sparked a riot, with members of the ruling coalition and the Opposition raining blows on each other. The MDF leadership today said it was "fully prepared" to topple the Nipamacha Singh government. "We are ready to take up the no-confidence motion against the Nipamacha ministry. We tabled the motion because the ministry can be toppled," said MDF convenor Nimaichand Luwang. Ceasefire issue: The MDF has opposed the Centre's fresh move to extend the ceasefire with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) to all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas of the Northeast. Sources said the Opposition front would send a delegation to New Delhi to take up the issue with the Union home ministry. In another development, Samata Legislature Party leader Radhabinod Koijam today accused the Nipamacha Singh ministry of violating the action plan submitted to Union home minister L.K. Advani recently. Koijam told Advani that the government had recommended promotions for 26 police sub-inspectors in violation of the action plan. Advani had pressured Nipamacha into chalking out an action plan to tackle insurgency.