Politics / Manipur

NEW DELHI, March 5: Firmly opposing the extension of the three-year-long ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN(IM), Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam today demanded comprehensive ceasefire with all the outfits in the region to make the peace process "more purposeful", reports PTI. "Why not all the outfits are covered? But if you want to confine your talks with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) alone at any cost it should not be extended to the Naga inhabited territories of Manipur," Koijam told reporters. Dismissing reports which suggested that Koijam and Mahanta's...

IMPHAL, March 5 (PTI): The Centre today sanctioned a grant of Rs 100 crore to bail out Manipur from its financial crisis, Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam said today. "The Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha informed me today that a sum of Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned to the State which did not have money even to pay salaries and pensions", Koijam told reporters in Delhi. The amount sanctioned would be sufficient for the time being to pay pending salaries and pensions, he said. The Minister of State for Finance S Loken assured that with this amount the Government will be able to pay...

IMPHAL, March 4: The 17-day-old People's Front Ministry led Radhabinod Koijam has strongly opposed the proposed extension of the 3-year-old ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN(IM) to Naga-inhabited areas of the Northeast, particularly Manipur. The Chief Minister, Radhabinod Koijam who is currently in New Delhi for the Chief Minister's conference, in a statement which was made available here, said that Naga outfits have been demanding a Greater Nagaland or Southern Nagaland integrating all Naga-dominated areas of Manipur have strongly opposed the extension of the ceasefire and will, at...

IMPHAL, March 3: Ex-minister and member of the state Assembly during the period 1972 to1980 from the Thongju constituency, Oinam Tomba died at his Nameirakpam Leikai residence under Thongju constituency. He was 61 and died as a bachelor. Known for his belief in a united Northeastern region under a unified state called 'Brachin', he pioneered in demanding more autonomy to the Northeastern region. Apart from being a political figure, Tomba was also known for his aptitude in sports and journalism. O Tomba was also closely associated with the Manipur Table Tennis Association and other sports...

IMPHAL, March 3: The proposed extension of the ceasefire between the NSCN(IM) and the Centre to other contiguous Naga-dominated areas of the Northeast has received a boost after Union home minister L. K. Advani yesterday hinted at getting "a positive response from the Chief Ministers of some states in the region." However, Manipur Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam today opposed any move to extend the ceasefire to the Naga-inhabited areas of the state. In an official statement released from New Delhi, Koijam reportedly mooted the idea of a ceasefire with all the militant outfits of the Northeast...

IMPHAL, March 3: Contradictory to news reports, the state Chief Minister, Radhabinod Koijam has reiterated that Manipur's objection to the proposed extension of the three year-old ceasefire between the Government of India and Naga UGs, to Naga inhabited areas in the state still stands. Talking to mediapersons at the Chief Minister's secretariat, the health minister, Nimaichand Luwang speaking on behalf of the Chief Minister, who is now in Delhi, categorically denied that the Chief Minister had at any point during his talks with either the Prime Minister or the home minister gave any positive...

NEW DELHI, March 2 (PTI): In a bid to placate the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) in accepting two other Naga factions NSCN (Khaplang) and the Naga Federal Group (NFG) in the peace process, the Government today indicated that the three-year-old ceasefire could be extended to Naga inhabited areas in the neighbouring areas. The response from Assam and Manipur Chief ministers PK Mahanta and Radhabinod Koijam were positive, home minister LK Advani told reporters after the two Chief Ministers held separate meetings with him and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. But it has been...

NEW DELHI, March 2: While reiterating its Opposition to the demand of extending the NSCN(IM) ceasefire to Naga inhabited areas of neighbouring States of Nagaland, Assam Government has requested the Centre to utilise the ceasefire to engage the other insurgent outfits in negotiations. The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee as part of his consensus building measure today held a meeting with the Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. The Union Home Minister, LK Advani and top officials of his ministry also attended the meeting. The Prime Minister held similar meeting with the Chief Minister of...

IMPHAL, March 4: The general secretary of the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), Y Mangi Singh, has categorically stated that the former party president W Nipamacha Singh was expelled from the primary membership for a period of six years by a decision of the central executive committee, the highest body of the party, under the provision of the party constitution. The general secretary, in a statement issued here, also said Tombinou Singh was not the party spokesman appointed by the collective decision of the party but was personally appointed by Nipamacha. It said neither had been appointed...

IMPHAL, March 2: The Governor of Manipur, Ved Prakash Marwah, has prorogued the eventful third session of the seventh Manipur legislative Assembly. Further, the Governor has summoned the fourth session of the Assembly, which will be the budget, session for the financial year 2000-2001 on March 19 next at 11 am in the state Assembly Hall. The Raj Bhawan issued a press release to this effect today. It may be mentioned that the Radhabinod Koijam ministry, in its first Cabinet meeting, held on February 28, had recommended to the Governor to prorogue the 3rd session of the Assembly and to convene...