Only Congress can save unity, democracy: Jairam
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 19 2022:
Rajya Sabha MP and AICC senior observer for Manipur elections Jairam Ramesh has said that return of Congress party to power in Manipur will be the only option to safeguard unity, diversity and democracy.
In an exclusive interview with The People's Chronicle, Jairam said that no other political party with the exception of Congress could meaningfully safeguard unity, diversity and democracy in Manipur and people of the state should understand this and vote wisely.
When asked about Congress party's plan to regain people's trust in view of declining popularity in the North East particularly in Manipur after the party had ruled for 15 consecutive years, the senior Congress leader said that the party ruled the state prior to 15 years of the O Ibobi government.
In the last assembly election held in 2017, Congress emerged as the single largest party but BJP government at the Centre used excessive power to deny Congress from forming the government.
Nevertheless, Congress party's manifesto for the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly election has several positive and constructive agenda.
The party hopes to regain people's trust with these agenda and formation of Progressive Secular Democratic Alliance (PSDA) with like-minded parties like CPI, CPM, Forward Block, RSP and JD-S, he said, adding that the booklet published by PSDA highlights complete failure of BJP government in the state in the past five years and people will understand this and support the alliance.
According to Jairam, repeal of AFSPA is mentioned in the Congress manifesto and this is what people of Manipur have been longing for.
After seeing Congress party's manifesto, chief minister N Biren repeatedly said that Congress made several false promises to people of the state but BJP's manifesto did not even mention about AFSPA let alone its withdrawal.
When asked if Congress has any plan for complete withdrawal of AFSPA, the senior Congress leader said that repeal of AFSPA is not only of Manipur but also demand of people of the entire North East region.
Lifting AFSPA from a state depends much on the government in that particular state and it will be possible to scrap AFSPA if governments in states where the Act is in force stand firmly against the draconian legislation, he replied.
When asked about his views on peace talks between the government and the Naga outfits, safeguarding territorial integrity of Manipur and on protection of indigenous people, Jairam Ramesh replied that unity and integrity of Manipur cannot be negotiated under any circumstances and this is not solely about land matter but emotion developed from birth.
Nevertheless, it is important to restore peace in Manipur and NE and if needed Article 371 (C) of Indian Constitution should be amended.
Hectic campaign is underway to bring Congress to power again in Manipur and party leaders and workers are working overtime to achieve this target, Jairam Ramesh said, adding that he believes a government led by Congress party would come in Manipur after the upcoming election.
There are two main differences between Congress and BJP.
While BJP wants uniformity, Congress wants unity and preservation of Manipur's culture, unity and diversity and other unique places with Constitutional provisions, the senior Congress leader said.
According to Jairam Ramesh, five years of BJP government in Manipur completely ruined democratic freedom and people including media persons and CSOs, NGOs and intellectuals who criticised the chief minister and the ruling party either through media or social media were sent to jail.
He also said that whatever BJP government laid foundation stones for projects or inaugurated were brought by the previous Congress government and BJP only renamed the projects.
BJP government in Manipur is now bankrupt and facing overdraft and the five years of BJP rule was a complete failure and accordingly Congress released a booklet titled '5 Years of Darkness in Manipur Under BJP Misrule' after a careful study of BJP's mis-governance.
He then urged people of Manipur to read the booklet so as to acquire knowledge and understand the true nature of BJP.
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