Manipur PR threat recedes

NEW DELHI, January 7: The threat of President's rule, which was looming large over Manipur, appeared to have receded on Saturday with the State government agreeing to toe the Centre's line to tackle insurgency and tone up the administration. The 11-month-old Nipamacha Singh Ministry in Manipur, which was facing a serious threat due to the political tussle, got a fresh lease of life with the Chief Minister submitting a time-bound action plan to bring the State out of the financial rut and stamp out militancy, after days of dithering and procrastination. The action plan, which includes CBI probe into scams relating to State lotteries and fake government appointments allegedly involving about half-dozen State ministers, was finalised on Saturday following the Chief Minister's meeting with Home Minister L K Advani. 'I am extremely optimistic that the situation will be tackled well through this plan," Advani told reporters after the meeting.