Cong takes strong exception to CM's remarks
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 15 2021:
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president, Govindas Konthoujam has demanded a public apology from Chief Minister N Biren Singh for his purported comments on free rations, vaccines and vaccination for COVID-19 .
In a video message made available on social media, K Govindas alleged that the statement of the Chief Minister which briefly summed up as "vaccines and rations don't fall from sky" is akin to disgracing and undermining the people of Manipur.
Hearing such a comment from the Chief Minister himself is truly unfortunate for the people of Manipur, he said and added that the Chief Minister must apologise for his anti-poor statement at the earliest.
Blaming the Congress for the hardship being faced by the people of Manipur is also surprising as the Chief Minister himself was a member of the then Congress Government, Govindas reasoned.
The Congress leader further charged that people are quite aware whether the recently inaugurated Covid Hospital started construction in the last 4 years or during the tenure of Congress Government.
He also asked who is indulging in double standard politics, Congress or BJP.
The State Government has collected Rs 702 crore as tax from petroleum products alone, Govindas charged and questioned what the Government has given in return to the people for the tax collected.
It is clearly mentioned in the National Disaster Management Act 2005 that the Government must provide essential items to the people during the time of emergency, Govindas said and added that whatever aid the people have received is their Constitutional rights.
Speaking as if he is providing relief to the distressed people from his pocket is truly embarrassing, the Congress leader asserted.
Claiming that the Central Government levying higher taxes during the Covid pandemic is very unfortunate, Govindas asked if the Central Government has spent more than Rs 2 lakh crore in fighting the pandemic.
The Reserve Bank of India gave a surplus fund of Rs 89,122 crore to Government of India recently, but the question is where has the money gone, the Congress leader asked, and added why the taxes are not going down if the amount was used in tackling Covid pandemic.
There is also no sign of helping those who lost their services due to the Covid from the Government side, he added.
Lastly, Govindas demanded N Biren Singh to furnish a comprehensive white paper for the fund received from the Government of India and at CM COVID Relief Fund and the amount utilised so far.