IMPHAL: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Okram Ibobi Singh on Sunday questioned the delay in the expansion of the state Cabinet, saying the government has failed to appoint ministers for several key departments even after nearly five months in office.
At present, the Manipur government has only two Deputy chief Ministers and one Cabinet Minister, while several key portfolios, including the Health, Commerce and Industries, Education Department, continue to remain under chief minister Yumnam Khemchand due to the delay in Cabinet expansion.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhawan in Imphal, Ibobi said the government was functioning without a full-fledged Council of Ministers, with chief minister Yumnam Khemchand handling more than 20 departments.
“The present government has completed around five to six months, yet the Cabinet expansion has not taken place. The chief minister is looking after more than 20 departments. How can a government function effectively in such a manner? What can the people expect from this government?” he asked.
Referring to the absence of a dedicated Education Minister, Ibobi said the state’s education sector was being neglected despite education being the backbone of the future generation.
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He further asserted that if the people wanted a “new Manipur,” they would have to defeat the present government.
The former chief minister also targeted the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre over repeated examination paper leaks, alleging that the government had failed to protect the future of students.
Citing Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks during a protest in Dehradun, Ibobi alleged that since the NDA came to power in 2014, more than 152 examination paper leak incidents, including NEET and other competitive examinations, had occurred across the country.
He further claimed that over 22 aspirants had died by suicide due to the stress caused by examination irregularities.
“The present government cannot escape its responsibility. Those responsible, including the Union education minister, should resign on moral grounds,” he said.
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On the recent arrests in connection with the killing of six people, Ibobi said the rule of law should prevail and expressed hope that the victim families would receive justice.
“The victim families are waiting and crying for justice. I hope those responsible will be brought to justice and the affected families will get the justice they deserve,” he said
