Samata Party claims Opp leader's post

IMPHAL, February 8: Samata Party president Jaya Jaitley today said there are only two options to tide over the present political crisis in Manipur. One option is to place Manipur under the President's rule and the other way is to form an alternative Government. Talking to reporters in Imphal today the Samata Party leader, who came to Imphal to assess the political development here said if invited the Samata Party can provide an alternative Government in the State. Jaitley, who also met the Governor to discuss the present situation, said the Samata Party is not interested in toppling games but concerned with the need to bring a reversal to what has been happening now in the State. On the question of leadership of the Opposition parties the leader said since the Samata Party is the single largest party among the Opposition parties the leader should be elected from the party. "The formula applied in the rest of the country should also be applied in Manipur," she said. The Samata Party leader blamed the problem of insurgency for the financial crisis in the State. "Funds are being drained out and the main factor is insurgency," Jaitley said. She also said that guns and violence are not the solution to their problems. Their demands or grievances should be laid on the table for negotiations she said. She also said peace should be restored in the State to bring all round development. On the sudden demise of Basanta Kumar Wangkhem the party leader described his death as a big loss for the State. Meanwhile, Jaitley has nominated O Lohrii as the president of the State unit Samata Party. Jaya, who attended the shradha ceremony of Basanta Kumar yesterday, left Imphal for Delhi today.