Will join INC, says O Joy
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 01 2018:
Veteran politician Okram Joy has declared that he would join Indian National Congress (INC) to fight the BJP-led Governments of both the Centre and the State which have been allegedly breaking laws at will like dictatorship.
Speaking at a gathering held at his Kakwa residence today where many public leaders of Langthabal AC were present, Joy said that he cannot stay away from active politics given the BJP-led Government's rampant misgovernance.
He said that he would formally join Congress party on December 3 and go to Congress Bhavan on December 7 together with some of his supporters.
Clarifying that his decision to join Congress is not guided by any consideration for electoral advantages or seats of power, Joy vowed that he would work to translate all the party's programmes into action.
"At one point of time, I was at the forefront of the Opposition forces which criticised the Congress party and their Governments but today as advised by my people, I will once again take up the cudgel as a Congress man against the misrule of the BJP Government", Joy said.
Retirement from politics would be seen as an act of cowardice, said the veteran politician.
Like a reckless driver, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been posing serious challenge to the country's democracy, constitution and the integrity.
The threat to the integrity of Manipur and the sanctity of its territorial boundary must be neutralised in befitting manner, he asserted.
Imprisoning a citizen for expressing some grievances against the Chief Minister or the Government is nothing but dictatorship, Joy asserted.
"As it is not correct to give a free hand to the BJP-led Government which respects neither democratic principles nor the country's constitution, it's not yet time for me to retire from electoral politics", he said.
He asserted that every citizen is entitled to point out the wrongdoings of any Government.
Asking if there has been any good news from any part of Manipur since the BJP-led Government was sworn in, Joy alleged that the corruption level of the BJP-led Government is three times higher than that of the previous Congress Government.
Saying that his political career started with the establishment of Manipur University, Joy asserted that the BJP-led Government is an enemy of all those people who worked relentlessly to set up Manipur University.
The entire country is ruled at the whim of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During the protracted Manipur University crisis, the BJP-led Government did not listen to the collective voice of students, teachers and the general public, and Chief Minister N Biren was given little attention by the Prime Minister, Joy remarked.
It is matter of pride and jubilation that the people of Manipur succeeded in saving Manipur University from the hands of the BJP-led Governments of the Centre and the State, he added.