Cong MLA questions inability to open NHs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 12 2025: Noting that the President's Rule has succeeded in bringing cessation of armed clashes, former Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker and Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar has however questioned why the PR administration is unable to open National Highways to the Meitei people.

Speaking at a signature campaign on Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhor held at the residence of PCC member Athokpam Okendra at Khurai Sajor Leikai, Tinsid Road today, the former Speaker questioned as to why the PR administration is not issuing shoot at sight order against people obstructing free movement on National Highways.

In order to ensure the return of N Biren Government, more than 4000 people were enlisted in the voters' list illegally and this led to the victory of Letpao Haokip in Tengnoupal AC, Lokeshwar alleged.

Saying that there is no guarantee such illegal manipulations did not happen in other Assembly segments, he called upon all the citizens to be vigilant so as to prevent similar manipulations in the future.

BJP alone has more than 30 MLAs and the ruling alliance led by BJP has 54 MLAs, he said and asked why BJP is not going to the Governor with the claim to form a Government.

This is the right process.

But the BJP MLAs, instead of going along with this right process, have been begging their Central leaders to allow them to form a Government.

Thus they are making a fool of the masses, the former Speaker said.

Pointing out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed two public rallies at two separate locations during his visit to the State on September 13 instead of addressing a common rally, Lokeshwar asked whether the Prime Minister's visit was aimed at bifurcating Manipur.

Soon after PR was imposed in the State, armed confrontation ceased.

Had similar steps been taken from May 4, 2023 itself, the violence would not have spread so widely and the casualties would not have been so high, he said.

Today no one opposes Kukis from coming to Imphal but Meiteis are prohibited from travelling on the National Highway passing through Kangpokpi, he said.

Lokeshwar then asked as to why the Governor and the Home Minister are not issuing a shoot at sight order against people who have been obstructing free movement on National Highways.

Saying that BJP is not suitable to the soil of Manipur, the Congress MLA said that not only Meiteis but all the communities may be wiped out if the party is not uprooted from the soil of Manipur.

Lok Sabha Member Dr Bimol Akoijam, former Minister N Loken and MPCC General Secretary S Manaoton were also present at the gathering.

The same signature campaign was also held at the residence of former MLA Khwairakpam Loken under the aegis of Sagolband Block Congress Committee at Keishampat Thiyam Leikai.

Speaking there.

Th Lokeshwar said that MLAs should not go to Delhi to form a Government.

The BJP MLAs should elect a leader and go to the Raj Bhavan with a claim to form Government, he said.

He asked the BJP MLAs the purpose of going to Delhi every now and then instead of going to the right place and went on to ask as to how the BJP MLAs can ease the suffering of people when they cannot elect a leader.

Asking the BJP MLAs to stop acting like puppets of Central leaders, the Congress MLA said, "Let us work together to save Manipur" .

Khwairakpam Loken said, "All of us are here to serve Manipur.

Where will we be when there is no Manipur? Let us work together with an understanding that saving Manipur is the first and foremost priority" .

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