MP pledges to continue to talk Manipur

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 23 : Inner Manipur MP Dr Bimol Akoijam has said that he will continue to raise the issue of Manipur both inside and outside the Parliament.
Addressing a press conference at his residence at Keishamthong today, Dr Bimol continued that the Congress leaders including deputy Opposition leader Gaurav Gogoi raised an adjournment motion to discuss the crisis  in Manipur during  the winter session of the Parliament.
He said that the Congress leaders protested after the ruling side rejected discussion on Manipur and Adani.
Saying that he submitted both starred and unstarred questions concerning Manipur to the Speaker of the House, Dr Bimol maintained that the responses given by the Union Ministers concerned, however, were deficient.
He also said that some responses were misleading.
Saying that he also submitted a starred question on the forest areas affected by poppy plantation in Manipur,  Dr Bimol maintained that poppies are being planted in 85.68 sq km of reserved and  protected forest as per the response he got.
He said that he tried to raise a supplementary question on poppy plantation but didn't get the opportunity.
Further stating that he tried his best to raise the issue pertaining to the abduction and massacre of three women and three children in Jiribam and the mysterious disappearance of Laishram Kamalbabu from inside Leimakhong Army base camp, the MP said that he, however, didn't get the opportunity due to frequent uproars inside the Parliament.
He also said that he didn't get the chance to speak in the recent Parliament session.
The MP went on to state that the Centre had already sanctioned Rs 209.45 crore as a special package in August 2023 including Rs 38.60 crore (Rs 31.67 crore released) meant for affected farmers as per the Union Agriculture Minister and Farmers Welfare.
The State Government should make public how the fund received from the Centre was utilised along with the number of farmers benefited and amount of money given to them, he said.
He, meanwhile, said that it would be right for the State Government to send the recommendation to enlist  Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe list.