Anti-BJP group raises furore in Thoubal
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 11 2011:
A large number of people who came to disrupt an election meeting of the BJP were driven back by police at Thoubal today.
In their efforts to drive back the agitated crowd, police opened fire besides firing several rounds of tear gas shells.
The mob, nevertheless, vandalised seven vehicles brought there by BJP supporters.
Meanwhile, BJP vice-president Dr Najma Hepmtulla, general secretary Tapir Gao and BJP State unit president Sh Shantikumar have charged that the furore and the unwarranted attack was launched by Congress supporters of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi.
They said that the matter would be raised in the Parliament during the winter session as well as at other national level political platforms.
BJP leaders and supporters were holding a meeting at Thoubal Moijing Thoubalmayum this morning within the home constituency of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi.
As the proceedings of the meeting began, a large group of people marched towards the meeting venue from the direction of Mina Bazar shouting through loudspeakers that no election meeting of BJP can be held there as BJP is allegedly anti-Muslim.
Even as security forces present there tried to control the crowd, the agitating people started vandalising vehicles parked at the meeting venue using stones and clubs.
This compelled the police personnel to fire several rounds of bullets, tear gas shells and mock bombs to drive back the mob.
In spite of the furore and the abortive attempt to disrupt the meeting, it was conducted successfully though it was shortened a bit.
Addressing the meeting which was attended by around 1000 people, Dr Najma Heptulla and Tapir Gao claimed that BJP would achieve a landslide victory and form Government in Manipur after the Assembly elections.
They also pledged to put in maximum efforts for development of minorities.
Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Tapir Gao alleged that the Congress-led SPF Government has been violating the rights of its citizens rather than protecting their rights.
Today's unwarranted attack allegedly incited by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi who is also in charge of Home Department testified that the SPF Government has reduced democracy to a sort of mockery.
Condemning the subversive attack in the strongest term, Tapir Gao stated that the matter would be raised during the ongoing session of the Parliament as well as at other national level political platforms.
Dr Najma Heptulla said that she never came upon such disruptive activity in any part of the country during her 40 years long life as a politician.
Taking strong exception to the objections raised against the BJP's attempt to uplift backward Muslim community of Manipur, Dr Najma asserted that the SPF Government is intent upon suppressing the Muslim community for good.
BJP would not remain silent to the Congress-led SPF Government's treatment of different communities with different perspectives.
BJP State unit president Sh Shantikumar alleged that Chief Minister Okram Ibobi was unwittingly projecting people of the State in the wrong light before the whole country by instigating some of his supporters to raise an unruly furore targeting BJP leaders who were visiting his home constituency.
He also appealed to the Chief Minister not to instigate such disruptive activities in future.
Earlier before the meeting, Dr Najma Heptulla and Tapir Gao inaugurated two BJP offices at Thoubal Achouba and Thoubal Moijing.
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