Jairam calls BJP poll menu 'Jumla' manifesto
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 17 2022:
Terming the BJP's manifesto for the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election as 'Jumla' (mere announcements) manifesto, All India Congress Committee (AICC) senior observer Jairam Ramesh has asserted that the manifesto is filled with lies.
Addressing a press meet at Congress Bhawan here-on Thursday, Jairam Ramesh alleged that since the unconstitutional manner of forming the BJP led government in 2017, the state has been in a turmoil.
BJP's 20-point manifesto released on Thursday makes no mention of AFSPA and farmers.
Out of the 20-point manifesto, 10 points were mentioned in their 2017 manifesto as they could not achieve them.
This shows that the five-year long BJP government in the state was a failure, he said.
Jairam emphasised that though the BJP is silent on steep rise in unemployment, Congress is keenly focusing on the matter.
The BJP-led government has deliberately not conducted local bodies' election despite finishing their five-year term which is a direct challenge to India's democracy and Constitution.
It is very laughable that in the function for releasing the BJP manifesto it was stated that the state has zero tolerance to drugs.
It is very well-known that members of BJP government have strong connection with drug mafia, he maintained.
Jairam Ramesh continued that public should not get swayed by BJP's false promises.
People of Manipur should not trust the manifesto of BJP which does not include issues faced by the state's denizens.
If people want true democracy in the state as well as in the country and take the youth towards the right direction, they should trust the Congress and vote for the party, he further appealed.
During the press conference, a booklet titled '5 Years of Darkness in Manipur Under BJP Misrule' which counters every point mentioned in the BJP's manifesto was also released.
The senior Congress leader also described BJP's claim of zero-tolerance policy towards drugs as a "joke".
Releasing the manifesto earlier in the day, BJP national president JP Nadda asserted that under the leadership of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, the state has headed towards development in the last five 5rears, tackling the drug menace and achieving stability with rule of law being established.
Rarnesh told reporters that the Manipur government website informs people that only 47 per cent of the state's eligible population have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, which is among the lowest in the country.
He claimed that this proves the failure of the BJP government in the state.
It was the Congress that gave the people of the state a "stable and able government" for 15 years in a row since 2002, Ramesh said.
To call the election results of 2002, 2007 and 2012 as mandates of instability is a "mockery" and an insult to the people of Manipur, the AICC observer said.
"The Constitution was murdered by the BJP in 2017.The mandate was for the Congress but the BJP formed the government, "he said.
"Political instability came only in the last five years.
The BJP gave five years of darkness," Ramesh said.
On the menace of drug abuse in the state, he claimed that everybody is aware of the nexus that exists between the ruling party and the narcotic mafia.
"In the last five years, there is a complete destruction of democracy and civil rights," the former Union minister said.
Slamming the BJP manifesto for being "silent" on the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), he said the Congress has made its stand clear on the controversial law.
In its manifesto released earlier, the grand old party promised to work towards repeal of the Act, if voted to power.
Ramesh alleged that the NGOs, the media and anyone who oppose the chief minis -ter and the government were under threat.
Concerning the BJP's promise of taking the administration to the doorstep of every household in the hills of the state, he asked why the autonomous district council elections were not held in five years.
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