Cong-Left alliance releases common agenda
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 05 2022:
The pre-poll alliance of Congress and Left parties has been named as Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance (MPSA) and an 18-point common agenda was released at Congress Bhawan here on Saturday.
The 18-point common agenda includes protection of territorial integrity of Manipur; ensuring rights and independence of the people; maintaining the love and harmony between different communities; upholding the preamble of the Constitution; formulation of a Right to Free Health Care Law for the poor; providing allowance to unemployed youth; encouraging entrepreneurs, scientists, innovators, engineers, artistes, artisans, weavers, and craft persons; taking up more welfare activities for the unorganised sector; providing electricity and drinking water to every household; setting up a proper public transport service with free services for working women, children and students; economic and political empowerment of women; and ensuring full implementation of Article 371 (C) of Indian Constitution.
Speaking at the event, AICC Parliamentary Committee chairman and Manipur senior election observer Jairam Ramesh informed that Congress, CPI, CPI (M), RSP, AIFB and JDS formed the pre-poll alliance with a common agenda in mind.
The alliance hopes to free the state from the darkness it was in for the last 5 years.
He further said that the alliance would not only bring about a new democratic government and ensure the rights enshrined in the Constitution, but would also work for the welfare of farmers, women and students.
The step taken by the alliance would be a good decision which will forever remain in history, he maintained, while adding that INC would do all it can to ensure the success of the alliance.
Jairam continued: "The pre-poll alliance would be pro-constitution, pro-democratic and focus on civil democracy.
BJP has a Team B but Congress does not have a back-up team for it firmly believes in the alliance.
Other political parties like JD (U) and NPP are the Team B of BJP.
However, MPSA will try to form a progressive secular government" .
In his speech, CLP leader and ex-CM O Ibobi stated that MPSA was formed with the aim of defeating the BJP government at the centre as well as in the state.
It is working speedily to fulfil this goal, he said and added that the alliance will translate the common agenda into action if it were to form the government.
Remarking that BJP government is a government which does not match its mouth with its hands, he said that it was unfortunate of BJP to think the people would believe in their cheap publicity propaganda.
BJP encourages defection and violation of the Constitution as was seen in and after the 2017 elections.
Even the then Governor failed to rebuke the BJP government for violating the Constitution, he stated.
Ibobi then said that such forceful formation of the government is not good for the future of the state.
Another big question is whether the press still.has its independence as the fourth pillar of democracy under the BJP government, he added.
Addressing the gathering, CPI national executive member Dr M Nara contended that the alliance was not formed in view of the ensuing election, but with the objective of defeating the anti-people and pro-corporate government, and bring about huge changes in the country and state.
It is time for a government to come to power in the state which can safeguard the Constitution; he asserted and urged the people to extend the,ir support to MPSA.
The function was also attended by other leaders of MPSA.