Cong takes potshots at BJP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 15 2022: Recalling that the Chief Minister affirmed an announcement made by the Commerce and Industries Minister that the BJP-led Government would give jobs to 1.5 lakh unemployed youth in a year which multiplies to 7.5 lakh in five years, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has asked the Government how many people have been given jobs during the last five years.

Speaking to media persons at Congress Bhavan here this afternoon, MPCC working president K Meghachandra claimed that the previous Congress Government planned and set aside necessary fund for establishment of one industrial centre in each and every district of the State.

Thoubal district industrial centre, Bishnupur district industrial centre and Lamboi Khongnangkhong industrial centre were established during the Congress Government, Meghachandra said before asking the incumbent Government if it had established any industrial centre.

He further asked what had happened to the BJP-led Government's plan to revive Loitang Khunou Spinning Mill and create employment.

On July 31, 2017, then Rajya Sabha MP K Bhabananda announced that the State Government had approved establishment of 11 additional IRB battalions.

Forget about establishment of 11 additional battalions, the Government is still unable to declare results of the recruitment exam for establishment of a single Manipur Rifles battalion, Meghachandra remarked.

The Congress party as well as the people are aware of why the Government is unable to declare results of the MR recruitment exam, the MPCC working president asked BJP to stop hoodwinking the masses.

As work orders for construction and maintenance of roads in different Assembly segments could not be issued before the election code of conduct came into force, there would be no road construction/maintenance works during the current financial year which ends in March, he said.

As per financial guidelines, no contract work can be executed without work order, he continued.

Different contract works were executed in line with the work programme of 2020-21 and bills were submitted to the Finance Department.

But a huge chunk of fund allocated for the plan works of 2020-21 was released to a construction company for repairing airport road.

But it is not permissible to pay liabilities of works executed earlier out of the funds sanctioned for the plan works of 2020-21, Meghachandra said.

This was a clear case of fund misappropriation, he added.

Noting that just 43 per cent of the State's total eligible population has been given both the first and second dose of Covid vaccine in spite of the Government's initiative of door to door Covid vaccination, the MPCC president warned that Covid positive cases will continue to rise in the State.

Even though the BJP-led Governments at the Centre and the State are often touted as double-engine Governments, the incumbent State Government has failed miserably, he remarked.

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