State home minister rules out president's rule in Manipur

Manipur Home Minister G. Gaikhangam Friday rejected the idea of imposing president's rule in the state, after a series of bomb blasts left 10 people dead in two months.

"It is something absurd and unbecoming to demand president's rule. The situation does not warrant imposition of Article 356, as the government is tackling the situation," Gaikhangam told IANS.

"The law and order situation is totally under control. Such minor incidents (bomb blasts) have also taken place in other parts of India and even the world," the home minister said.

On Thursday, the opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) demanded that Article 356 be invoked and president's rule be imposed in the state, following a series of blasts which have so far claimed 10 lives.

"Imposition of president's rule has become inevitable, to save the people of Manipur from further miseries," TMC's Manipur state unit president Kim Gangte told reporters Thursday evening.

Alleging that the ruling Congress government has totally failed to protect the lives of the people, the former Lok Sabha member said: "President's rule might be one of the most effective means to protect the lives and properties of the people of the state."

"The Okram Ibobi Singh-led government is not at all concerned about the safety of our people, since they have the majority in the assembly," Kim said, while expressing surprise that the central government was tight-lipped on the recent blasts in Manipur .

The home minister, however, rubbished Kim's allegations, saying that the law and order situation has "much improved, compared to the previous years".

"We have taken all steps to ensure security to the people and to prevent rebels from carrying out such attacks," Gaikhangam said.

At least 10 people died in bomb blasts triggered by suspected rebels in the past two months, including the recent blast at the Moirangkhom bus stand which killed three people and left four injured.

In the 60-member assembly, the opposition parties comprise Trinamool Congress (7 members), Manipur State Congress Party (5) Naga Peoples' Front (4) and one member each from the Nationalist Congress Party and the Lok Jan Shakti Party.

The ruling Congress has a strength of 42 in the house.