CM rakes up sports varsity issue to chide BJP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 20 2017: Cautioning the people against the "lies" and "deceitful tactics" adopted by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to garner people's faith, Chief Minister O Ibobi asserted that Congress unlike the saffron party is a responsible political party which works according to the pulse of the people.

He said this while addressing the flag hoisting ceremony of Paonam Brojen, INC candidate from 34-Wangjing Tentha A/C for the forthcoming 11th State Assembly election at the candidate's residence at Wangjing Wankhei today.

The flag hoisting ceremony attended by thousands of people was organised by Wangjing Tentha Block Congress Committee.

Speaking as chief guest, the Chief Minister said that BJP cannot fool the people by making false promises and indulging in blame game to woo voters.

Referring to construction of National Sports University in the State as an example of his claim, he said that a Central team of BJP chose Yaithibi Loukol as the site for construction of the university.

The university can be constructed in any suitable place in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur and Thoubal district.

The onus of the State Government regarding the construction is to give the required land asked by the Central Government.

The State Government has nothing to do with the selection of site for the construction, he clarified.

He pointed out that Yaithibi Loukol was chosen as the site by the central team after inspecting other feasible sites in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal and some hill districts along with its DCs.

In inspecting the sites, the State had incurred crores of rupees.

Documents on selection of the site are with the State Government, he claimed.

Ibobi reiterated that the State Government gave 400 acres of land at Yaithibi Loukol much more than the 200 acres of land asked by the Central Government.

After clearing the decks for construction of the university, an official team of BJP including Union Minister Vijay Goel arrived in the State and decided to shift the site to Koutruk in Imphal West.

They contended that the university cannot be constructed at Yaithibi Loukol citing the site as a low lying area and that a large tract of paddy fields and houses would be affected, he said.

Maintaining that the State Government had given 320 acres of land at Koutruk above the 200 acres of land demanded by the Central Government, the CM alleged that the BJP Government at the Centre was hesitating to pass a bill in Parliament with regard to the construction.

Taking a jibe at the saffron party, Ibobi said that the State Government by incurring a huge amount of money constructed a helipad to felicitate the Prime Minister who was supposed to arrive in the State in connection with the construction but the PM did not come, exposing the lies of BJP.

He said that construction of the sports university cannot be completed within a span 10 years and that is why the Central Government was urged to pass a Bill to open the university temporarily either at SAI or Khuman Lampak but the appeal went unheard.

During the NDA rule, a Bill was passed in the Parliament to set up National Sports Academy in the State and subsequently steps were taken up to run the academy as soon as possible, Ibobi said.

The CM appealed to the voters of Wangjing Tentha to re-elect MLA Paonam Brojen to bring more development and progress in the constituency.

Today's flag hoisting ceremony was also attended by president of Wangjing Tentha Block Congress Committee, N Naral Singh as president; MPCC secretary Sarangthem Manaobi; Zilla Parishad Members; Ward Members, chiefs of frontal cells and several others as guests of honour.

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