By election in Thangmeiband, Thongju ACs Dy CM takes fight to BJP on integrity plank
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 04 2015: Taking the fight to the turf of the BJP for the by election to Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency and Thongju Assembly Constituency on November 21, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam today said that the choice before the people is between a party which is committed to protecting the territorial integrity of the State and and the other which is not averse to compromising with the territorial integrity of Manipur.

Speaking at the election meetings of INC candidate Jyotin Waikhom for Thangmeiband AC at Lalambung basketball ground and for Bijoy Koijam at Khongman Mangjil Primary School ground today, the Deputy Chief Minister said if the voters support the BJP candidates then it would amount to supporting the designs to compromise with the territorial integrity of Manipur.

Gaikhangam, Jyotin and Congress members

Going on the offensive against the BJP, Gaikhangam said that after the party came to power at Delhi, it went ahead and signed the Framework Agreement with the NSCN (IM) and is now supping with the Naga People's Front.

The two are partners in some ADCs of the State, said Gaikhangam and added that the people should be wary of these forces which are bent on compromising with the idea of a Manipur.

Gaikhangam further said that the by elections are important to defeat the agenda of the BJP, which has signed the Framework Agreement with the NSCN (IM).

It is the Congress which is committed to protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur and working with a vision to bring development.

Supporting the BJP will be nothing less than embracing the agenda to break up Manipur, said Gaikhangam and urged the voters not to forget this all important point while voting.

The Deputy Chief Minister also questioned the agenda behind keeping the Framework Agreement under a cloud of secrecy and demanded that the crux of the agreement be made public.

Stating that the by elections would not have been necessary if the disqualification had not come about, Gaikhangam maintained that this is more than ample testimony that the BJP candidates are not fit to be elected.

Since the two disqualified MLAs stood against the wishes of the people and against the 10th Schedule, they had to be disqualified, said the Deputy Chief Minister.

It was only selfish motives which led to party hopping, said Gaikhangam and added that now the people know the true colours of the BJP candidates.

MLA N Loken who was also present at the election meetings urged the voters not to re-elect the two MLAs who have been disqualified.

The MLA also took digs at the pronouncement of the State BJP president Th Chaoba who said that the by election is a fight against corrupt practices.

It is the BJP functionaries who are neck deep in corruption, he charged.