Cong gives it back to BJP word for word
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 13 2023: The Congress party has accused the BJP State unit president A Sarda Devi of trying to mislead the people with a concocted version of Manipur history.

It may be mentioned that the chief of BJP, Manipur had blamed the Congress party for the restive situation in Manipur, yesterday.

Addressing the media at Congress Bhavan today, vice president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) and senior spokesperson of the party Hareswar Goswami said that the BJP, Manipur president seems to be unfamiliar with the role and responsibility of Opposition parties in a democratic set up like India.

Cong gives it back to BJP word for word

He said that A Sarda burying all historical facts of Manipur to mislead the people in yesterday's press briefing of BJP was unfortunate.

Saying that the grand-old party doesn't want to engage in blame game during this difficult period in Manipur nor would people want to see blame game, Hareswar Goswami said that they however were made to clarify as the charges levelled by Sarda Devi were very serious.

It is the responsibility of the Opposition parties to give feedback if the people are not satisfied with the policy and programme of the Government, he said and asked Sarda Devi to study first the role and responsibility of Opposition parties in democratic Nations like India.

The Congress leader further claimed that the BJP is a party which is infamous for suppressing the voice of the people, even on social media, and sending its critics to prison.

Suppressing the voice of critics is the trait and tradition of the saffron party, he added.

On what ground did Sarda Devi claim that several cases of ethnic clashes have taken place during the over 70 years of governance by the Congress party when the grand-old party was at helm for only about 45 years, Hareswar Goswami asked.

The Congress leader further said that Sarda Devi accusing them of working under a hidden agenda and completely ignoring the interest of the country was nothing but sheer ignorance.

Asking from what context the BJP chief concluded that Congress was in power for nearly 60-65 years in Manipur, Hareswar said that Congress party was in power at Manipur for about 37 years and five months.

The chief of BJP, Manipur speaking whatever she fancies is not apt with the post she holds, he said and advised Sarda Devi to speak only about things which she is familiar with.

He further said that the BJP must stop blaming others for their fault.

Saying that the current clash in Manipur under the double-engine BJP Government is entirely different from other cases of ethnic clash as the question is on the integrity of the State, the Congress leader maintained that numerous blockades were imposed on National Highways during the Congress regime as the party didn't negotiate when it comes to State's integrity.

He further said that the Congress controlled the Meitei-Pangal clash of 1993 before it became more intense but there wasn't a Congress exclusive Government at the Centre during the Naga-Kuki clash (1992-1997) as depicted by Sarda Devi.

Hareswar Goswami went on to clarify that the Kuki -Paite clash of 1997-98 also took place while Manipur State Congress Party led by W Nipamacha was at the helm but Sarda Devi again had tagged the Congress party for it too.

The double engine BJP Government however is unable to control the Meitei-Kuki clash till now, Hareswar Goswami said.

The Congress leader cautioned that they will take up legal action against Sarda Devi if she fails to clarify all the baseless charges she had levelled against them.

The BJP has also been accusing the Congress of giving away Kabaw Valley to Myanmar, Hareswar Goswami continued and added that the said valley was given to Myanmar during the British rule on January 9, 1834 and the same is documented in Indian National Archive.

Saying that the Congress on the other hand was founded by AO Humes in 1885, he added that everyone knows Kabaw Valley was given to Myanmar 50 years before the Congress party was formed.

On the other hand, Hareswar Goswami asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not showing any sympathy to a Meitei rape victim in a way which he condemned the nude parade incident.

He also asked why the Governor who gave compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the two women who who were paraded naked has not yet visited the Meitei rape victim.

Further asking why the Government is unable to verify whether two teenagers who have been missing since July 6 are dead or alive, Hareswar Goswami questioned the motive of the Prime Minister in speaking on Manipur violence for just a minute or two in his nearly two hour long speech at Lok Sabha.

The Congress leader also asked why the two MPs from Manipur weren't given a chance to speak in Parliament.