CPI rejects BJP's claim
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 19 2013:
CPI national executive council member N Mangi has categorically denied State unit BJP's allegation that being a coalition partner of the then SPF Government CPI was well aware about the border fencing project.
Speaking to newspersons at Irabot Bhavan today, N Mangi, a former Minister in the SPF Government, said issues concerning border fencing neither figured at steering committee meetings nor discussed at Cabinet meetings.
Outrightly rejecting State BJP's contention that CPI cannot claim innocence on the issue, he said Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh who is State Wild Life Advisory Board Chairman never brought up the issue when Manipur was under the SPF coalition.
Even though CPI was part of the erstwhile SPF Government there was no steering or cabinet sessions in which the border fencing issue was taken up for discussion, mangi reiterated while affirming that since the time of Jananeta Hijam Irabot the CPI had been taking the leading role in protecting Manipur's territorial boundary and interest of the people.
It was Jananeta Irabot and the CPI's intense campaign that eventually foiled Government of India's agenda to form Purvanchal Pradesh by merging Manipur, Tripura, Lushai Hills and Cachar district, he maintained to substantiate contention that CPI had been at the forefront of safeguarding Manipur's boundaries.
Hitting back at the BJP, Mangi highlighted that 18 precious lives were lost when Manipur was besieged with strong protest against the erstwhile BJP-led NDA Government signing the Bangkok Declaration 'without territorial limit' with the NSCN (IM) .
The declaration's 'without territorial limit' clause was deleted only after BJP realised that its mistake caused the death of so many people, he stated while asserting that CPI has never deviated from the wish of the people and remains committed to rectifying administrative incompetency that resulted in the present border fencing row.
Stating that BJP State unit president Th Chaoba lacks political principle or commitment due to his frequent shifting of political allegiance, Mangi said CPI has nothing to hide or clarify to the BJP regarding its stance on the border fencing issue.