Manipur BJP President Sharda devi corners Congress over AFSPA repeal jibe
Imphal: Negating the charges levelled by different political parties including the Congress with regard to failure to revoke AFSPA from the State by the BJP-led government, BJP Manipur Pradesh President A Sharda Devi questioned as to why the Congress which ruled the State for 15 long years failed to withdraw the draconian law completely from the State.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the flag hoisting ceremony of BJP candidate from Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency Jyotin Waikhom held at his Thangmeiband Hijam Leikai residence, Sharda said that the Congress should first give a reply as to why the grand old party failed to withdraw AFSPA during its 15-year rule before questioning the BJP on the issue. She said that people want the draconian law to be lifted from the State but at the same time, the BJP does not want occurrence of insurgency-related problems in the State.
She said that the saffron party is fully confident of winning above 40 seats in the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election with unwavering support of the people. The claim of the Congress and other parties that the BJP won’t win even two digits is a false propaganda and political strategy of the rival parties. Practically, the BJP will definitely win above 40 seats and form the next government comfortably, she added.
Taking a swipe at former Chief Minister Okram Ibobi who claimed that the BJP government has done nothing, Sharda said that the BJP government did its best for development and welfare of the people during its five-year tenure. The works executed by the Congress in its 15 years long rule were the gifts of the NDA-I Government led by Late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, she added.
The State BJP President said that the NDA-I Government created a separate DoNER Ministry for the Northeast to allay the ‘step motherly treatment’ concept that existed in the minds of people of the Northeast. She maintained that the AAY scheme was introduced by the NDA Government to provide free rice to the poorest of the poor and the long-awaited Inner Line Permit System was granted to the State by the BJP government.
The Congress party is blaming the frequent visits of Union Ministers to the State out of jealousy. In the past, there were many instances when MLAs/Ministers of the previous Congress government returned empty handed without meeting with Central leaders when they visited the national capital to highlight the main issues concerning the State. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sending the concerned Ministers to the State to take stock of the public grievances. PM Modi has brought Delhi close to Imphal now, Sharda said.
She went on to say that ILPS was easily granted to the State after the BJP government led by CM Biren and State MPs convinced the Central leaders about the urgent need to implement the system. The BJP is not like Congress that does not listen to the voice of the people at the grassroots level. As far as the BJP is concerned, Prime Minister Modi connects with the people at the grassroots level, Sharda added.
Attending the flag hoisting ceremony, Works Minister Th Biswajit said that the BJP always stands for development and welfare of the people and there will be peace and development where there is BJP. He said that the Congress which ruled the country for 60 years ever since its independence has only ruined the State.
He said that it is the BJP that renamed Mount Harriet as Mount Manipur as a tribute to the then Maharaja Kullachandra who was exiled to Kalapani after the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. Many strong Chief Ministers have ruled the State and many Prime Ministers have ruled the country but none of them thought of honouring freedom fighter Rani Gaidinliu. It is the BJP that popularized Rani Gaidinliu and assured to construct the Rani Gaidinliu Museum, he added.
The Minister said that after the BJP came to power, the State has never heard of fake encounters and Meira Paibis who always spent nights at sheds to protect their husbands, sons and daughters can have sound sleep now. He said that the BJP has brought smiles on the faces of the poor who could not afford expenses for medical treatment after launching CMHT and PMJAY.
The State has seen considerable improvement in road connectivity in the last five years. However, the Covid-19 pandemic crippled the government in taking up development works for almost two years, he added.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs & Education Dr RK Ranjan, Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba and former Union Minister Th Chaoba were also present at the function.
