Manipur crisis averted: Himanta
CBI case against ex-CM Ibobi Singh politically motivated, alleges Congress
BJP’s troubleshooter in northeast, Himanta Biswa Sarma, had to step in once again as did the party's ' Super President' Amit Shah, who despite relinquishing the top post early this year, was required to intervene in an attempt to save the troubled NPP-BJP government in Manipur.
However, after the crucial meeting, Sarma, the North East Democratic Alliance chief tweeted that "both BJP and NPP will continue to work together for development of Manipur".
Not only were Sarma and Shah present but Conrad Sangma, who heads NPP and is also Meghalaya CM was also present in the meeting. NPP's Manipur unit went rogue and threatened to join the Congressled alliance if there is no change of CM in the state. Manipur's Deputy Chief Minister Jooykmar was also part of the meeting.
While Sarma suggests the problem is averted, it is unclear if it means CM Biren Singh will be replaced or not. The four NPP MLAs had earlier called it a "non-negotiable" demand of theirs.
Amid political crisis in Manipur, the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) questioned former Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in Imphal on Wednesday in the Rs332 crore misappropriation case and also summoned O Naba Kishore Singh, then Chairman of the Manipur Development Society (MDS).
During the questioning that started around 11.30 a.m, the CBI team asked the former Chief Minister about amassing of huge wealth between 2009 to 2017, when he was the MDS Chairman. “The agency has also summoned the then MDS Chairman, O Nabakishore Singh, for questioning in the MDS fraud case on Thursday in Imphal,” a CBI source said.
During his tenure as the MDS Chairman from June 2009 to July 2017, it’s alleged, Singh conspired and misappropriated Rs332 crore of the Rs518 crore govt fund entrusted to MDS for development works.
Three former MDS Chairmen — DS Poonia, PC Lawmuknga and O Nabakishore Singh (all retired IAS officers) — have been named in the CBI FIR along with Singh. Y Ningthem Singh, former MDS project director and S Ranjit Singh, its administrative officer, also figure in the FIR. CBI took over the case on Nov 20, 2019 on the state's BJP gov’s request and after the Centre nod.
Meanwhile, four MLAs of the National People's Party (NPP), who had withdrawn support from the BJP-led government triggering a political crisis last week, were on Tuesday flown to Guwahati. They are supposed to visit Delhi to meet the senior BJP leadership.
The Nongthombam Biren government was reduced to a minority after nine MLAs -four of the NPP, three of the BJP, one of the Trinamool Congress and an Independent -- withdrew support and went to the opposition Congress, which subsequently staked claim to form an alliance government.
Did no wrong, welcome probe: Ibobi Singh
Former Manipur CM Ibobi Singh said he was chairman of MDS from July 2013 to August 2014, denying he held the post for seven-eight years. He said he took up the post "after being requested by the then chief secretary".
“As per the rules of the MDS, there is no role of the chairman. Any type of transaction, sanction and signing of cheques are done by the project director. Hence, the chairman is not aware of it,” Singh said. “I didn’t open any bank account in connection with MDS, never signed a single cheque,” he said, adding he was never a joint signatory as the chairman.”
Meanwhile, Congress alleged the probe was a desperate bid to save the BJP-led govt in Manipur, which recently faced rebellion. “This (is) nothing but an effort to buy time for a sinking ship. People will lose faith in CBI,” Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi tweeted after the agency summoned Ibobi Singh.
BJP leader Ram Madhav said the Biren Singh-led govt will complete its term.