No IRB men suspended for shooting UG

Imphal, July 09: The chief minister, O Ibobi Singh, has clarified that the IRB personnel involved in the killing of some NSCN (IM) cadres in an encounter at Pallel earlier this year have not been suspended from service, as alleged by Federal Party of Manipur MLA M Nilachandra Singh in the Assembly yesterday. Replying to the general discussion in the state budget for 2002-2003 this evening, the chief minister said the IRB personnel have neither been suspended nor rewarded. He expressed regret that the House has been misled by some Opposition members, and urged that matters which have not been verified adequately should not be brought up in the House. The CM also took umbrage at a statement made by an Opposition MLA casting personal aspersions on him. Earlier, as discussions on the budget continued for a second day, several Oppsoition MLAs attacked the 2002-2003 budget for the lack of direction and commitment. FPM member Salam Ibohal expressed skepticism whether the 2003-2004 budget would be able to bring development in any sphere. It does not incorporate specific and time-bound commitment and lacks direction for resource mobilization, he delared. The Opposition MLA also criticized the plans for downsizing the government, stating that the SPF ministry, in failing to consult the employees who would be affected, was seriously mishandling the mater. He said the introduction of the downsizing policy coupled with the ban on post creation, has taken away the rights of the educated unemployed youths who are seeking white-collar jobs. He said more than four lakh educated youths are registered at the Imphal employment exchange but unfortunately the budget does not have any specific measures to find employment for them. Irengbam Hemochandra said the budget does not indicate the bold steps that the ruling government has to take in the interest of the public. Former chief minister RK Dorendro said the budget has been framed without any knowledge of the grievances of the people of the state. In his reply, the chief minister, while expressing appreciation for the constructive suggestions made by the Opposition, pointed out that the budget is only a tentative estimate. He offered to resign from his post if there has been any mismanagement in financial affairs by his government.