Newmai News Network
Imphal | July 21
Manipur Democratic Alliance (MDA) on Sunday slammed cabinet ministers who stayed away from attending a cabinet meeting convened on Saturday evening.
Some cabinet ministers stayed away from attending the cabinet meeting convened by chief minister N Biren Singh at the cabinet room of the chief minister’s secretariat on Saturday evening.
Since the eruption of leadership crisis in the BJP, the party leading the coalition government, some cabinet ministers have been skipping the cabinet meetings convened by the chief minister.
Skipping the cabinet meeting by some cabinet ministers in such a "crucial" time of the state was not in the interest of the people of the state, MDA convener N Tombi Singh alleged.
Pointing out that some key ministers were absent from attending the cabinet meeting on Saturday, Tombi said that it showed that the ministers were not taking seriously the water scarcity problems being facing by the farmers.
Addressing a press conference at Shiv Sena office in Imphal, Tombi expressed strong concern while alleging that while people are facing untold miseries due to less rainfall this year, legislators of the ruling parties remained engaging in power tussle.
“It is not a thing to be done. At this juncture, people, particularly farmers need the supports of the legislators,” he said.
Tombi also alleged that the prolonged leadership crisis in the BJP has brought hardship to the people as the government is unable to discharge its duties properly.
“BJP should resolve the crisis immediately and concentrate on serving the people,” he demanded, adding that making the people to suffer because of crisis in the party in power is not the sign of having good governance.
At the same time, the MDA convener lauded the cabinet decision regarding declaration of Manipur as a drought hit state and availing loans from New Development Bank for taking up developmental works in the state.
Observing a severe shortfall in the rainfall this season, the cabinet has decided to recommend the Central government to declare Manipur as a drought hit state.
Official said that during the period from June till July 19, the state experienced only around 231.40 mm of rainfall, instead of the normal 530.80 mm of rainfall.
Owing to the shortfall in the rainfall, paddy fields across the valley and hills districts remained dry, bringing anxiety to the farmers.
The MDA convener said that due to floods in the previous years, there was acute shortfall in the rice production in the state.
It can be noted here that the MDA was formed by 11 political parties.
