- The Hindu Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. Photo: S. Subramanium
- The Hindu Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar
Shambu Singh, the Joint Secretary (Northeast), Ministry of Home Affairs
and Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, have denied the charge of
the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio that they pulled strings not to
allow his helicopter to land in Tamenglong district of Manipur when he
wanted to visit the state for addressing election rallies. Mr. Shambu
Singh said that he had nothing to do with the issue since it was a
matter to be decided by the Election Commission of India.
Mr. Okram Ibobi said that he had no role to play in the matter. He said
that if Mr. Rio had informed the Manipur government about his visit he
would have been accorded VIP treatment including full fledged security
coverage.
Addressing an election rally in Churachandpur district, Mr. Okram Ibobi
Singh said that Mr. Rio is shedding crocodile’s tears by concealing
facts. He pointed out that Mr. Rio has been saying that the Nagas of
Manipur and Nagaland are one. “The undeniable fact is that there is
discrimination between these two groups,” he said.
“In the past, one Naga student from Mao in Manipur who was studying in
Nagaland was denied prizes and stipend despite the fact that he had
topped in the examination. This was because the student was from
Manipur. He further said that some Nagas who had passed the examinations
conducted by the Nagaland Public Service Commission were not appointed
since they are from Manipur. This kind of discrimination is not seen in
Manipur,” he added.
Mr. Okram Singh appealed to the people to stay away from Mr. Rio who has
been spewing communal venom in election speeches in Manipur. It may be
recalled that a Congress MLA Biren Nongthombam had filed a complaint
with the Election Commission of India saying that Mr. Rio has violated
model code of conduct and he is stoking the communal fire in Manipur.