Koijam promises fiscal discipline in Manipur

IMPHAL, February 15: The new Chief Minister of Manipur, Radhabinod Koijam, today said his top priority would be to usher in peace to the state and enforce financial discipline in the government. Talking to newsmen at the Raj Bhawan after he was sworn in as Chief Minister, Koijam said he did not believe in using force to solve the problem of militancy. After capturing the Chief Ministership by staging a major political coup, Koijam's biggest task is to improve the law and order situation and the state's economy. The Chief Minister said use of force can never end insurgency and added "only a political solution can solve the decades-old insurgency problem." He said his new government would work hard to bring peace and prosperity to the state. When asked why insurgents were not responding to the appeals issued by previous governments, Koijam said there was a need to find out the reservations of the insurgents regarding such offers. "After knowing the insurgents' reservations, we have to manage the situation," he added and stressed the need for a political dialogue with the insurgents. Commenting on the state's acute financial crisis, he said his government would work hard to improve the economy and the financial health of the state. Reiterating that his government would be stable, Koijam said it would now be an all-party government. "Many central leaders talk about a national or an all-party government. Manipur has shown it today," he remarked. He said the new government will adopt a collective approach in resolving the various problems of the state. When asked why the Congress has been left out even though he claims his government to be an all-party one, Koijam said the lone Congress MLA, Rishang Keishing, can also support the government's policies even if he remains in the Opposition. He also called on the people to work together to solve various problems. Referring to the 26-point action plan submitted by former Chief Minister W. Nipamacha Singh to Union home minister L.K. Advani, Koijam said he would thrash out the matter in New Delhi. He said he was opposed to many points in the action plan and will place his objections before Advani. When grilled about Tuesday's political coup and yesterday's U-turn, Koijam said it was not new to Manipur or the country. He said it was a part of politics and happened everywhere. When asked about the possible size of his ministry, the new Chief Minister said it would be between the small and jumbo sizes. After being sworn in, the new Chief Minister first visited the historic Kangla Fort and then went to the Shri Govindaji temple. Koijam took his oath in Manipuri language, dressed in the traditional Manipuri dhoti and kurta with a Khamen Chatpa scarf. Keishing prediction: Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Rishang Keishing today said the People's Front ministry led by Radhabinod Koijam would not be a stable one since it was formed by "defectors", reports PTI. Keishing said central leaders of the BJP and the Samata Party had encouraged "horse trading" among the MLAs in Manipur and blamed them for the political crisis in the state. He said Samata Party president Jaya Jaitley had recently said the party having more MLAs should lead the government and wondered why the MSCP having 23 MLAs was not allowed to lead the front ministry.