Manipur CM indicates small initial cabinet

IMPHAL, February 21:The State Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam indicated today that the size of his ministry will kept small, at least initially, on account of the financial problems faced by the State. Radhabinod Koijam, who addressed a press conference at the residence of Union Defence Minister George Fernandez at New Delhi today, also confirmed that the first expansion of the ministry will take place on Friday next. The CM is return to Imphal tomorrow. According to official reports from New Delhi, the State Chief Minister has also made it clear that 'tainted' former ministers, who have been charged with having nexus with militant groups or with involvement of corrupt practices would not find any place in his ministry. He indicated that his ministry will have a number of new faces. On the size of the ministry, he stated that taking into account the current financial problems of the state, he will not have a large ministry at least for the present, adding that the Central leaders were also of that view. The new Chief Minister told the gathered media persons that his government would make efforts to tone up the administration, improve the law and order situation, boost the economy, improve the socio-economic condition of the people, particularly the downtrodden sections, create public confidence, streamlining government expenditure, maintain financial discipline, improve the working condition of employees, and to wipe out corruption from the State. The Chief Minister disclosed that several committees and commissions will be constituted to look into various administrative matters including prioritization of sectors and schemes, maintaining financial discipline and creating self-confidence among the state police and the Manipur Rifles. One of his top priorities, he stated, would be to check official malpractices. With reference to the problem of insurgency, he said the government would invite all insurgent groups operating in Manipur to the negotiating table, adding that the State government would make all efforts, in consultation with the Central government for the permanent return of peace and harmony in the state of Manipur. While observing that without the help of the people in general and NGOs, youths, youth organisations and cultural organisations, it is near impossible for the government to take up such a task, he urged the youths in general and insurgent groups in particular to come forward and help the government in its efforts to bring the government inn its efforts to bring about peace in the State. He further informed the media persons that he is thinking of requesting the Centre to announce a unilateral ceasefire with respect to all the outfits operating in Manipur on the same line of the current ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) to pave the way for them to come to the negotiating table. The official report adds that the Chief Minister made a courtesy call on the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee earlier to seek his blessings. The Chief Minister also met with the Union minister for agriculture, and among others topics, had detailed discussions on the question of paying compensation for the agricultural land feared to be affected by the proposed Loktak Downstream project, and urged him to settle the matter amicably so that the project is taken up and implemented as per scheduled.