Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, La Ganesan has been appointed and was sworn-in as the 17th governor of Manipur on August 27 at a ceremony held at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan, Imphal in the presence of Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren and his council of ministers and high ranking officials of the state.
The oath of office and secrecy was administered by chief justice of the Manipur High Court PV Sanjay Kumar. The appointment letter of Ganesan as the governor of Manipur given by the President Ram Nath Kovind was read out by chief secretary Rajesh Kumar during the oath-taking ceremony.
After the oath-taking ceremony, the governor inspected the guard of honour inside the Raj Bhawan and had also interacted with the chief minister along with his cabinet colleagues and other officials.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the ceremony, Ganesan said that he is glad to get the opportunity to experience the beautiful culture of Manipur. Stating that he considered the people of Manipur as his own blood brothers and sisters, the newly sworn in governor assured to serve the people of the state with full dedication and sincerity, reports said.
Ganesan arrived in the state on August 26 afternoon following his appointment as the governor of Manipur on August 22 by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind succeeding the interim governor of Manipur Ganga Prasad following the retirement of Dr. Najma Heptulla.
He is a senior leader of the BJP, presently serving as the party’s national council member and is also a former MP of the Rajya Sabha.
UCM on Border Fencing
The United Committee Manipur (UCM) demands to halt the construction work of Indo-Myanmar birder fencing immediately until it is settled. UCM further warns to launch various forms of agitations if the demand is not materialised.
This has been expressed to a media team by the leaders of the UCM team who visited the site on August 26.
The UCM team under the leadership of its President and General Secretary along with local residents of Kwatha village under Tengnoupal district found the continuation of construction works of border fencing.
The UCM leaders vehemently condemns the continuation of construction work of Indo-Myanmar border fencing even after repeated demand was made to finalise the border dispute concerning the changing positions of border pillar 81 and border pillar 82 from its original place.
Speaking to the media team, UCM President Joychandra Konthoujam said that there is evidence of shifting border pillar 81 from its original place of 3 km towards Indian Territory. Apart from this, the position of border pillar 82 was also changed. The shifting of the two border pillars came to light a few years ago, and UCM and local residents have been demanding to demarcate the border based on traditional boundaries.
However, the authority concerned continued the construction work of the wall fencing near subsidiary pillar 40 by losing around 400 meter towards Indian Territory, he added.
“Earlier we have claimed that 3 km towards Indian Territory has been lost but continuation of wall construction by losing another 400 meter distance is unfortunate. Such a decision of the Centre in association with the Myanmar government clearly shows that the central government does not have any interest to protect the land and boundary of Manipur,” Joychandra lamented.
Reports quoted Nongkam Satang former chairman, TK Leidong as saying that the villagers settling near the border areas have been demanding to allow them to participate in the land demarcation as they have all the records of the land boundaries and where to demarcate. However, the demarcation was forcibly carried out without their knowledge and it is highly condemnable. Such a decision will ultimately lose many square areas of their land.
The state government should at least give some attention in this regard even though the land dispute has to be settled down by the central government. Otherwise, a large portion of the state’s land would be taken away, said Leidong.
AICC Leaders Jairam Ramesh and Ranajit Mukherjee
As the Manipur State Assembly election is knocking at the door, with AICC Social Media in-charge Pranav Vachharajani had already arrived in Manipur a few days ago, former union minister and recently appointed All India Congress Committee (AICC) poll observer for Manipur Jairam Ramesh and Secretary of Research Committee AICC Ranajit Mukherjee arrived in Imphal on August 27.
Reports said the two AICC leaders were accorded a warm welcome by Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Nameirakpam Loken and other congress MLAs and leaders.
After landing in Imphal, Jairam Ramesh said he will be staying in Manipur for four-five days, and he will also keep coming back as the election closes in.
After their arrival, the leaders started meetings with members of Youth Congress, leaders of National Students Union of India (NSUI) and party MLAs and senior Congress leaders of the state at Congress Bhavan, Imphal. The leaders will have series of meeting with Manipur Congress leaders and make strategies for the coming state assembly election, sources said.
HC Govt to Make Suitable Arrangement to Disburse NFSA Rice
The Manipur High Court on August 26 directed the State government to look into the matter of non-distribution of NFSA rice to ration card holders of Wangkhei Assembly Constituency in Imphal East district and make suitable alternative arrangements.
The division bench of the High Court comprising chief justice Sanjay Kumar and justice Lanusungkum Jamir gave the directive during the first hearing of a PIL filed by one Wangkheimayum Ramananda against non-distribution of NFSA rice, reports said.
The PIL stated that ration card holders of Wangkhei assembly constituency have been deprived of NFSA rice since April.
The court’s order stated that the state government should make the arrangements in the event as the FPO dealers are not in a position to give effect to the welfare schemes by supplying food grains to the intended beneficiaries.
The division bench noted that the grievance in the petition filed in public interest is that supply of food grains under the public distribution system has been stalled owing to the disputes among the FPS dealers.
“In such an event, it is for the state authorities to make alternative arrangements so that supply of food grains to the needy under welfare schemes is not adversely affected. After all, the appointment of FPO dealers is to attain that objective and not just for their personal benefit,” the order stated.
Further, the division bench has directed the respondents (CAF&PD Secretary, CAF&PD Director and Imphal East District Deputy Commissioner) to file their counter affidavits on or before September 17, which is fixed as the next date of hearing.
MHRC on Kakching FPS Dealers
Concerning cases of alleged irregularities in rice distribution, Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) on August 27 issued notice to the DGP, Manipur and the Superintendent of Police, Kakching district to furnish reason why an FIR should not be registered against the Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers.
The MHRC asked the DGP and the SP, Kakching district to respond to a petition in two weeks’ time. It also directed the Superintendent of Police, Kakching district to look into the matter and a report of action taken be incorporated while submitting a report before the commission.
The petition was filed by one Naorem Ongbi Pramodini Devi and three others.
The complainants stated that in May 2021, the two FPS dealers distributed PMGKAY rice to ration card holders at the rate of 3 kg of rice per person instead of distributing at the rate of 5 kg of rice per person while another the two FPS dealers distributed NFSA rice for May 2021 at the rate of 4kg of rice per person instead of 5 kg per person.
The complaint stated that the petitioners along with other villagers protested vehemently against the illegal act of the FPS dealers and demanded to provide the right quantity of rice as prescribed under the law and direction issued by the authority. However, the FPS dealers did not listen to the demand made by the villagers, the petitioners stated. The petitioners have submitted a representative addressed to the deputy commissioner, Kakching district; however, no positive action has so far been taken up for the reasons best known to him.
Therefore, the complainants have submitted a written report to the officer-in-charge of Kakching Police Station asking for the registration of FIR under Section 406 & 409 IPC against the FPS dealers. However, no FIR has been registered without any valid reason, the complainants stated.
The commission observed that it had received several complaints regarding non-distribution of food grain as per the NFSA requirement.
The commission issued several notices to the deputy commissioner, Kakching calling for reports, and matters are under consideration of the commission. It also instructed to send a copy of the proceeding along with a copy of the complaint to the Director General of Police, Manipur and superintendent of Police, Kakching District that necessary action may be taken by September 10.
AMSU Observes 56th Hunger Marchers’ Day
As done every year, the All Manipur Students’ Union Manipur (AMSU) observed 56th Hunger Marchers Day also popularly known as 27th August at Pishum Chingamacha on last Friday.
As a part of the observance, AMSU flag was hoisted at Maheiroisinggi Ningsing Khubham (Students’ Memorial Complex) at Pishum Chingamcha, Imphal West and participants paid floral tributes to four individuals, Oinam Nabakumar, Laishram Chaobhal, Nongmeikapam Pramodini and Waikhom Nilamani, who laid down their lives on August 27, 1965 during the students’ movement demanding rice against artificial famine in Manipur. The students’ movement demanded a policy to prohibiting uncontrolled export of rice from Manipur which led to acute shortage of food grains and artificial famine in the state.
Then, the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) was born on August 28, 1965.
After the floral tribute, a public meeting on the topic ‘Today’s Challenges, Our Resurgence’ was organised at DM University campus. Gifts were also presented to the families of the four individuals who had lost their lives, reports added.
In connection with the observance, various state-level competitions such as painting, recitation, essay writing, symposium, etc, were organised in Imphal East, Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Jiribam and Tengnoupal districts, a release of AMSU said.
Consuming Pasteurised Milk Products After Three Days From Date of Packaging May Be Harmful For Health
Packaged pasteurised milk products cannot be healthy anymore if consumed after three days from the packaging date.
The Food Safety department, Manipur on August 26 said urging the public to check the date of packaging and manufacturing and the ‘best before’ or the ‘use by’ date before buying any packaged food products.
Designated officer of Food Safety, Imphal West Tekcham Brojendro said that the maximum period for keeping pasteurised milk under consumable condition is three days when stored below minus five degree Celsius. Certain health hazards may occur if one consumes packaged milk after three days from the date of packaging, reports said.
People consume milk as a healthy diet; however, it will not be healthy anymore if consumed after three days from the packaging date, he added.
No Affiliation For Kickboxing Association
The Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) has clarified that the association has no role to play regarding the incident in which the kick boxing team of Manipur was not allowed to participate in the national kickboxing championships.
A release issued and signed by MOA secretary general, Sunil Elangbam has stated that the association learned about the incident through a viral video footage and felt dismayed as it happened in the case of sports.
“I on behalf of the MOA would like to clarify in the eyes of justice and the general public that MOA has not given affiliation or recognition to any state-level kickboxing association till today as per record maintained by the office. MOA is an apex sports body of the state which has its own guidelines and constitution,” stated the MOA secretary general.
The prestige of the state is so important that only the genuine body should participate in the genuine national sports competition or championship with justice and fair play, the release added.
Around 21 kickboxing players of Manipur under the Kickboxing Association of Manipur selected for a national championship and phase 1 trial for Asian Games were reportedly denied entry into the trial venue on August 27.
In a video clip shared by the players and go on viral in social media, they were seen standing in front of the venue of the trail at Dayanand Bandodkar Krida Sankool, Mapusa Goa.
In the video, one of the players was seen wiping his tears while narrating their ordeals. The player claimed that Manipur Olympic Association had already approved their names for the selection a month ago, and they went for the trial with approval of Youths Affairs and Sports department, Manipur.
However, they were denied entry into the venue when they reached the venue of the trial. The player said, “Our family backgrounds are not economically sound but we have worked really hard and have come for the trial.”
However, they learnt that there were two groups from Manipur coming to represent the state when they reached the venue, he said.
