Meghachandra ridicules Mela visit amid crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kakching, February 06 2025: Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president K Meghachandra has strongly criticised the chief minister, ministers, and ruling MLAs for visiting Kumbh Mela at a time when the state is facing crisis, with people suffering and struggling.

He made this statement while launching the nationwide Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan Abhiyan - Samvidhan Bachao Rashtriya Padyatra (Save the Constitution National March) in Hiyanglam assembly constituency.

The Congress party launched the campaign on January 26 across the country, with the campaign in the state kicked off at the Hiyanglam Awang Leikai residence of ex-MLA Elangbam Dwijamani on Thursday.

Meghachandra ridicules Mela visit amid crisis

Speaking as the chief guest, MLA Meghachandra asserted that the then Congress government had undertaken major initiatives to bring development, peace, and good governance to the state, He emphasised that Congress MLAs used to stay in their constituencies and maintain close contact with the public.

However, he alleged that BJP MLAs seem to be absent from their constituencies most of the time, as if they have relocated to Delhi, leaving the state in chaos and its people in misery.

He accused the BJP government of according importance to ideology of the man who assassinated the Father of the Nation rather than Upholding the principles of Mahatma Gandhi.

The state Congress chief further alleged that the BJP dishonoured Dr BR Ambedkar by ignoring the provisions of the Constitution.

This, he said, was the main reason behind the Congress party's nationwide campaign, which aims to protect the Constitution that guarantees equal rights and safeguards for all citizens.

Meghachandra stated that the BJP government has been violating the Constitution and human rights.

He pointed out that local body elections have been withheld for three years since the expiry of the last term, leading to delays in development works and the loss of central funding.

He further criticised the soaring prices of essential commodities, which are directly affecting common people while claiming that the country's current economic policies favour the elites like Adani and Ambani while neglecting the poor.

Many infrastructure facilities such as airports, ports, factories, and public sector undertakings (PSUs), which were developed over decades, are being privatised and handed over to these business tycoons.

He also accused the government of failing in its constitutional duty to protect the lives and properties of the people along with pointing out that since outbreak of the crisis on May 3, 2023, hundreds of people have lost their lives, thousands rendered homeless, and their properties destroyed.

While the public continue to suffer and displaced persons remain stranded in relief camps, he alleged that the chief minister, along with some of his ministers and MLAs, is visiting Kumbh Mela on chartered flights.

He questioned whether they were using their own money or public funds for booking these flights.

Meghachandra further alleged that the BJP government has failed to preserve the state's educational, cultural, and sports resources, claiming that many talented players are dejected due to the government's mismanagement.

He called for the return of a Congress government to restore peace, normalcy, and development in the state.

The event was presided over by Hiyanglam Block Congress Committee president Th Ibungo and attended by former minister L Jayantakumar, ex-MLAs Md Fajur Rahim and E Dwijamani, MPCC general secretary (administration) S Jiten, general secretary (organisation) Md Amir Hussain, Manipur Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee president Mutum Sarma, Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress Committee president Yumlembam Anand, and District Congress Committee Kakching president Md Abdur Rahaman, among others.