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Congress changes tack on Manipur



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Congress changes tack on Manipur

The Statesman (New Delhi)
December 28, 2000

NEW DELHI, Dec. 27. ? The Congress?s change of stance on Manipur has
baffled the government, official sources said today.

It had assured the government on 17 and 18 December that it will support
any decision taken by the Centre to tackle militancy in Manipur. The
party, now, has changed tack.

Political circles are wondering if the Congress president, Mrs Sonia
Gandhi, is trying to pressurise the government in the wake of Ottavio
Quattrocchi?s arrest in Malaysia last week in connection with the Bofors
case.

The Union home minister, Mr LK Advani, discussed the Manipur situation
with Mrs Sonia Gandhi on the telephone. This was followed by the home
secretary, Mr Kamal Pandey, briefing the senior Congress leader, Mr
Pranab Mukherjee, on the situation in the state on 18 December.

The impression given to the government by the two Congress leaders was
just short of endorsing the Centre?s decision to impose President?s rule
in Manipur.

Mr Pranab Mukherjee reportedly said that the Congress would cooperate
with the Centre in handling the situation in Manipur, which he said, was
serious.

In a turnaround, the Congress conveyed to the government last week that
it was yet to make up its mind and would not give any commitment to the
government on bringing Manipur under Central rule.

The Manipur Governor, Mr Ved Marwah?s report to the Centre has described
the situation in the state as grim and sought tough measures to contain
violence let loose by the militants.

The Governor, is learnt to have recommended the imposition of Central
rule in the state.

But the government needs the support of the Congress for Parliament to
approve the imposition of President rule. And in the Rajya Sabha the
ruling alliance lacks a majority.

The only alternative left with the government is to invoke the
provisions of Article 356 of the Constitution, impose the President?s
rule for two months and restore popular rule by then.

In that case, Parliament?s approval is not required. But the government
is not confident of improving the law and order situation within two
months.

Congress leaders refused to elaborate on the party?s stand on Manipur
saying, ?We are watching the situation and any decision taken by our
party would be announced.?

                                                  Speaker?s move

The political situation in Manipur received a new twist with Speaker Mr
Sapam Dhananjoy Singh giving recognition to the breakaway Progressive
Federal Party of Manipur, adds PTI from Imphal.

According to the Manipur Assembly secretariat, the order of 5 December
was signed by the Speaker.

Transport minister Mr Haokholet Kipgen, minister of state for higher
education Mr L Jayentakumar Singh of the Federal Party of Manipur and
chairman of the Hill Areas Committee Mr Chungkhokai Doungel of the
Manipur State Congress Party left the ruling United Legislature Front
and went over to the Opposition camp.

They had floated the PFPM and urged the Speaker to recognise it. The
order, copies of which were available to the press here, said an
application of 1 December had been filed by Mr Kipgen and Mr
Jayentakumar Singh of the FPM claiming to have formed a faction
constituting one-third of the total strength of the FPM in the House.

The FPM had a strength of four in the 60-member House before Mr Kipgen
and Mr Jayentakumar Singh left.

The United Legislature Front now has a total strength of 35 MLAs. The
order said the Speaker had gone through the application submitted by Mr
Kipgen and Mr Jayantakumar Singh.

?The Speaker was satisfied that the requirement of the 10th Schedule had
been fulfilled by the two MLAs. Accordingly the Speaker recognised the
split leading to the formation of PFPM and legislature party of PFPM
with effect from 1 December,? it added.



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<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
<html>
<b><font size=+2>Congress changes tack on Manipur</font></b>
<p>The Statesman (New Delhi)
<br>December 28, 2000
<p><b>NEW DELHI, Dec. 27.</b> ? The Congress?s change of stance on Manipur
has baffled the government, official sources said today.
<p>It had assured the government on 17 and 18 December that it will support
any decision taken by the Centre to tackle militancy in Manipur. The party,
now, has changed tack.
<p>Political circles are wondering if the Congress president, Mrs Sonia
Gandhi, is trying to pressurise the government in the wake of Ottavio Quattrocchi?s
arrest in Malaysia last week in connection with the Bofors case.
<p>The Union home minister, Mr LK Advani, discussed the Manipur situation
with Mrs Sonia Gandhi on the telephone. This was followed by the home secretary,
Mr Kamal Pandey, briefing the senior Congress leader, Mr Pranab Mukherjee,
on the situation in the state on 18 December.
<p>The impression given to the government by the two Congress leaders was
just short of endorsing the Centre?s decision to impose President?s rule
in Manipur.
<p>Mr Pranab Mukherjee reportedly said that the Congress would cooperate
with the Centre in handling the situation in Manipur, which he said, was
serious.
<p>In a turnaround, the Congress conveyed to the government last week that
it was yet to make up its mind and would not give any commitment to the
government on bringing Manipur under Central rule.
<p>The Manipur Governor, Mr Ved Marwah?s report to the Centre has described
the situation in the state as grim and sought tough measures to contain
violence let loose by the militants.
<p>The Governor, is learnt to have recommended the imposition of Central
rule in the state.
<p>But the government needs the support of the Congress for Parliament
to approve the imposition of President rule. And in the Rajya Sabha the
ruling alliance lacks a majority.
<p>The only alternative left with the government is to invoke the provisions
of Article 356 of the Constitution, impose the President?s rule for two
months and restore popular rule by then.
<p>In that case, Parliament?s approval is not required. But the government
is not confident of improving the law and order situation within two months.
<p>Congress leaders refused to elaborate on the party?s stand on Manipur
saying, ?We are watching the situation and any decision taken by our party
would be announced.?
<p><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Speaker?s move</b>
<p>The political situation in Manipur received a new twist with Speaker
Mr Sapam Dhananjoy Singh giving recognition to the breakaway Progressive
Federal Party of Manipur, adds PTI from Imphal.
<p>According to the Manipur Assembly secretariat, the order of 5 December
was signed by the Speaker.
<p>Transport minister Mr Haokholet Kipgen, minister of state for higher
education Mr L Jayentakumar Singh of the Federal Party of Manipur and chairman
of the Hill Areas Committee Mr Chungkhokai Doungel of the Manipur State
Congress Party left the ruling United Legislature Front and went over to
the Opposition camp.
<p>They had floated the PFPM and urged the Speaker to recognise it. The
order, copies of which were available to the press here, said an application
of 1 December had been filed by Mr Kipgen and Mr Jayentakumar Singh of
the FPM claiming to have formed a faction constituting one-third of the
total strength of the FPM in the House.
<p>The FPM had a strength of four in the 60-member House before Mr Kipgen
and Mr Jayentakumar Singh left.
<p>The United Legislature Front now has a total strength of 35 MLAs. The
order said the Speaker had gone through the application submitted by Mr
Kipgen and Mr Jayantakumar Singh.
<p>?The Speaker was satisfied that the requirement of the 10th Schedule
had been fulfilled by the two MLAs. Accordingly the Speaker recognised
the split leading to the formation of PFPM and legislature party of PFPM
with effect from 1 December,? it added.
<p>&nbsp;</html>

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