Why blame the Centre : Biren to State Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 23 2017: Former Minister Nongthombam Biren who joined BJP a few months back has castigated the State Government for blaming the Central Government for the UNC's indefinite economic blockade.

Speaking to media persons at their Nityaipat Chuthek office today, Biren said that State Government has been blaming the Central Government for the indefinite economic blockade while it has done nothing to resolve the issue.

With the sole intention of scoring electoral gains in the forthcoming Manipur State Assembly election, the Congress Government has been beguiling the masses.

Even though the State Government has failed miserably in discharging its responsibilities, a number of civil society organisations took up the issue of economic blockade with the Central Government.

Now the Central Government has started paying due attention to the issue, Biren claimed.

Whatever activities taken up by the Joint Forum for Peace, All Manipur Working Journalists' Union, Goodwill Mission for Peaceful Co-existence and Ima Keithel vendors to resolve the issue and ease people's suffering without waiting for the State Government's response should be appreciated by one and all.

Why blame the Centre : Biren to State Govt

At the same, the Central Government's initiative to send petroleum products and life saving drugs by air cargo is commendable, Biren remarked.

He exuded confidence that the proposed tripartite talk initiated by the Central Government can pave the way for a solution to the people's prolonged misery.

Although petroleum products have been shipped in regularly with security escorts, people are still standing in long queues in front of oil pumps for a few litres of petrol or diesel.

The State Government must bring out a white paper on allocation of petroleum products, Biren demanded.

When the Congress party was in power at the Centre for 10 years, they gave assurance repeatedly to develop Imphal-Jiribam highway as a standard highway but the assurances were never translated into action.

As a result, the condition of the highway has degraded to such a pathetic condition.

Nonetheless, the highway has been taken over by the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and due procedures have been initiated to develop the highway.

Blaming the Central Government for every issue of the State is nothing but dereliction of duty by the State Government, Biren asserted.

On the other hand, there is no concrete evidence that the Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM would infringe upon the territorial integrity of Manipur but the State Government has been deliberately misinterpreting the agreement to hoodwink the people of Manipur.

BJP Manipur Pradesh has already sent a representation to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister to bring a solution to the protracted issue of economic blockade in view of the extreme hardships being endured by the people of Manipur, Biren continued.

Questioning the authenticity of Congress party's allegation that BJP has been working together with NSCN-IM, Biren maintained that the ongoing peace talk between Government of India and NSCN-IM started when Congress was in power at the Centre.

He claimed that the BJP Government at the Centre would soon develop Imphal-Jiribam highway as a standard highway.

BJP Manipur Pradesh general secretary N Nimbus and former president Shantikumar Sharma were also present at the press meet.