BJP won't win 10 seats: Ibobi Defectors cannot harm Congress, says Dy CM
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 15 2017:
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam has categorically stated that former Congress men who have joined other political parties should never think about inciting internal strife within Congress party for their efforts would never fructify.
He was speaking at the flag hoisting ceremony of Congress candidate in Heingang AC Naoroibam Ratan (Kapu) held today at Heingang Mayai Leikai under the aegis of Sawombung Block Congress Committee.
Gaikhangam stated that they (former Congress men) should first think about keeping their house in order instead of trying to create rifts within Congress party.
As for the Congress party, there is no leadership crisis.
The party remains as a single united unit.
However, six/seven individuals have been fighting to project themselves as the Chief Ministerial candidate of a particular political party.
When these individuals are craving for the post of Chief Minister even before the election is held, it is hard to believe that they would work for the welfare of the people after they are elected.
Some individuals have been literally fuming because their Central leaders have not announced any Chief Ministerial candidate.
It is rather surprising that a few of these individuals have been saying that they would hold the post of Chief Minister even if they are not elected.
One would find it hard to believe that the particular political party which is guided by its narrow selfish interest, and was seeking imposition of President's Rule in Manipur and deferment of the State Assembly election would work for the welfare of the State, Gaikhangam remarked.
The June 18 event of 2001 in which 18 people lost their lives was caused by some politicians who had little idea about political principle and value, and habituated to party hopping.
It was their unethical political game which led to imposition of President's Rule and subsequent loss of 18 lives apart from putting Manipur on flames.
It appears that they are not satisfied with the massive destruction seen in 2001.They are demanding imposition of President's Rule in the State and deferment of the Assembly election with a sinister design to ignite violence on massive scale.
A handful of people who are determined to disintegrate Manipur have been treating President's Rule as something that should be savoured or cherished.
BJP and NPF cannot claim that they are not allies for they formed the Tamenglong ADC jointly.
It would not be any exaggeration to say that BJP, NPF, UNC and NSCN-IM are one and the same.
What is anathema to the Congress party are BJP, NPF, UNC and NSCN-IM, stated the Deputy Chief Minister.
Referring to the ensuing State Assembly election, he then appealed to the people of Manipur to choose between the political parties which have been conspiring to fragment Manipur and those who are determined to safeguard the integrity of Manipur at all costs.
"I've already clarified that I signed on a document which endorsed integration of Naga inhabited areas about 10 years not on my free will but under duress", Gaikhangam continued.
Without naming anyone in particular, Gaikhangam said that one politician who too signed on the same document is now a member of BJP.
He then asked whether BJP has taken any decision to expel the particular politician if he does not withdraw his signature from the document.
"If I had endorsed the demand for integration of Naga inhabited areas on my own free will, NSCN-IM would have never threatened to kill me at the first available opportunity.
I was also threatened that I would not go back live to Imphal if I went to Tamenglong district headquarters to file nomination papers on February 13 but I went there and filed nomination papers", Gaikhangam asserted.
Congress would secure two/third of the total seats of the Manipur Legislative Assembly and it would form the Government for the record fourth time, he claimed.
He categorically stated that Congress is a political party not a guest house where one can come in and go out at their fancy and whim.
After many crafty members have left the party, the remaining 'dumb' members unified together and the party has been further strengthened, Gaikhangam added.
Chief Minister Okram Ibobi remarked that those people who have been hurling all kinds of allegations against Congress party and Congress Government left the party only a day or two ago.
Those turn-coats held many Ministerial posts and they were blaming the Congress Government for projects which could not be completed in time when they were in charge of the concerned departments.
Genuine BJP and RSS leaders have not been speaking much.
It is the defectors who have been making all kinds of wild allegations against Congress.
Ibobi went on to assert that BJP would not win even 10 seats in the ensuing Assembly election.
He remarked that BJP Manipur Pradesh is now full of people who have their eyes only on the post of Chief Minister.
Whereas Congress party has been working for socio-economic upliftment of minorities, BJP only craves for power and they have least concern for the minorities.
That is why, they put up only one minority candidate in Lilong AC.
Naoroibam Ratan (Kapu) appealed to the people of Heingang AC to elect the candidate who would work for the masses.
MPCC president TN Haokip, MLAs Y Surchandra, Dr Ng Bijoy and many MPCC leaders were also present at the flag hoisting ceremony.