Voting for Cong implies giving licence to kill: Biswajit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 08 2019: Saying that more than 1500 people were killed extrajudicially in the State under the shadow of the infamous AFSPA 1958 which was introduced in the State by Congress party, BJP Manipur Pradesh Election Campaign Committee co-chairman and Government spokesman Th Biswajit has asserted that voting for Congress would be tantamount to giving licence for killing innocent people in fake encounters.

Speaking to some media persons today, Biswajit remarked that Congress party's manifesto which promises review of AFSPA 1958 is a hogwash for a large number of people had been killed under the impunity guaranteed by AFSPA.

Asking if there was any Congress leader who raised a voice against AFSPA when the State saw multiple extrajudicial killings, Biswajit appealed to all the people to uproot Congress party so as to make Manipur free from extrajudicial killings.

Voting for Cong implies giving licence to kill: Biswajit

To a query on CAB, the Government spokesman maintained that even though BJP has announced to bring back the Bill, the party is equally committed to protect cultural, linguistic and social identity of the people of Manipur and other North East States.

It was the Congress Government which first introduced CAB in 1955 and the Bill has been amended five times since then.

The latest the minimum residential period within the country from 11 years to six years for any immigrant from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan to be eligible for granting Indian citizenship.

BJP is a party which believes in the doctrine 'Nation first, party second and self last'.

Refuting AICC president Rahul Gandhi's allegation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed abjectly to fulfil his promise of providing jobs to unemployed people, Biswajit claimed that 5.60 crore jobs have been provided in MSME sector, loans have been provided to 12.37 crore youth under MUDRA Yojana and three crore entrepreneurs have been provided jobs.

He then appealed to all the people to keep faith in Narendra Modi's promise to make a new India free from unemployment where there are no homeless people.

Questioning credibility of Rahul Gandhi's assurance to restore the special category status removed from Manipur in case Congress party is elected to power, Biswajit contended that the special category status from removed Manipur on the basis of several reports submitted by the previous Congress Government led by Okram Ibobi.

The reports claimed that Manipur had made tremendous strides in agriculture, irrigation, healthcare, power, MGNREGS and many other sectors.

It were these reports, not BJP, which led to removal of special category status from Manipur and many other States, Biswajit said.

On the many charges made by Congress against BJP regarding demonetisation and GST, the Government spokesman claimed that demonetisation was done so as to bring forth huge amounts of black money stashed by wealthy people.

As for GST, it was quite necessary to bring about a new tax regime in the country in line with developed countries.

The UPA Government led by Dr Manmohan Singh attempted to introduce GST but they could not for fear of possible collapse of the Government, Biswajit said.

But the Narendra Modi Government, driven a strong political will, successfully introduced GST with a view to bring rapid economic development in the country.

The country has reaped rich dividends from introducing GST as testified by the substantial growth in tax collection throughout the country, he claimed.

The total tax collection during the UPA Government in 2013-14 was Rs 7.21 lakhs crore but it jumped to Rs 11.54 lakhs crore in 2017-18 under the NDA Government.

During the same period, the number of tax payers grew by 40.41 per cent, he elucidated.

The NDA Government has taken up a number of public welfare programmes such as Ayushman Bharat, PMAY, Jan Dhan Yojana, KISAN scheme etc out of the extra revenue earned from demonetisation and introduction of GST.

The Congress party too promised many similar welfare programmes in their 2004 election manifesto but they could not translate any of their promises into action in spite of ruling the country for 10 years, Biswajit said.

The country witnessed highest inflation of 10 per cent during 2009-2014 when Congress party was in power but the BJP-led NDA Government has successfully reduced the inflation rate to just 4.6 per cent.

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi are currently out on bail in connection with the National Herald case, Biswajit said.

He then appealed to all electors of the State to uproot Congress party and elect the two BJP candidates in order to make Manipur a corruption free and progressive State.