BJP stands rejected : Jairam Ramesh
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 20 2022: Senior AICC observer, Manipur Jairam Ramesh, who has been camping at Imphal for the last couple of days, has categorically stated that the people of Manipur have rejected the BJP for betraying them on numerous occasions and as such the Congress party will form the next Government with its alliance partners.

In an exclusive chat with The Sangai Express today at Congress Bhavan, the Congress leader asked why the BJP led Government at the Centre and the State is not able to fully vaccinate even half the eligible population of the State against COVID-19 with the figure even lower in certain hill districts if they exaggerate much about the achievement of the 'double-engine' .

A small State like Manipur reporting above 2,000 Covid deaths is extremely high and there might be many unreported fatalities too, the AICC observer maintained and asked how the State Government is managing the Covid pandemic.

BJP stands rejected : Jairam Ramesh

The BJP also doesn't value the concept of Satyameva Jayate (Truth alone triumphs) which is an integral part of the Indian National emblem and as such the party is constantly spreading falsehood and lies to the people, he declared.

Saying that BJP is all talk and no work (Haijinbi) party with little commitment to serve the people, Jairam Ramesh continued that corruption, unemployment, economic distress and disrespect to women has increased sharply since the NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took hold of power at the Centre.

"The scenario is no different in Manipur too as the State Government led by Chief Minister N Biren is also infamous for suppressing freedom of expression and imprisoning those who point out their misconduct.

They will get the result of misusing power in the forthcoming election," he said.

He also claimed that the BJP led Government in the State was formed using money and muscle power, which again is unconstitutional by nature.

On being asked about the rescheduling of polling dates, Jairam Ramesh said that the Congress had written to the Election Commission to change the first phase of polling on January 16 in the larger interest of the Christian community.

Maintaining that the State is lacking in terms of development as the BJP Government removed the special status of Manipur, the AICC leader asserted that the Centre bore 90 percent of the State expenditure on all Centrally-sponsored schemes and external aid and another 10 percent was given as loan to State at zero percent rate of interest during the Congress regime.

The Congress will restore the special status to Manipur once elected to power, he assured.

Jairam Ramesh was a member of the Planning Commission which was dissolved by the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government in 2014 and replaced with NITI Aayog.

The BJP led Government had spent the last five years mostly inaugurating the projects whose foundation stones were laid by the then Congress Government especially at the time of election to woo the voters, he added .

"Why is the BJP Government not focusing on making Manipur a self reliant State by encouraging the farmers to practise multiple croppings and promoting fish cultivation.

Major portions of the rice and fish available in the Manipur market are brought from other States such as Andhra Pradesh," he said and asserted that the State not only has the potential to be self sufficient but also has some of the finest and delicious food.

Further claiming that the BJP is resorting to violence and intimidating voters as they lack confidence of winning the election, Jairam Ramesh said that people of Manipur are now fed up with the BJP as they failed to deliver the majority of the commitments given ahead of the 2017 election.

On pre poll violence, he said that the Congress party had written to the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur to extend the judicial custody of all people arrested in connection with poll related violence till the end of election and to declare Constituencies with repeated violence especially Heirok, Mayang Imphal and Ukhrul as hypersensitive.

The Congress will also submit a complaint to the Election Commission if required, the Congress leader continued.

"Elections in Manipur were always peaceful in the past other than some minor incidents so it is clear that this is a deliberate attempt to intimidate the voters," he continued.

On being asked about the election manifesto, the senior Congress leader maintained that the agenda of BJP is jumla as it doesn't mention anything about the genuine issues such as AFSPA and Minimum Support Price (MSP) .

The Congress manifesto, on the other hand, was released after much consideration to restore the State, he said and added, this time the Congress is also very much serious and committed to remove the AFSPA from Manipur as well from other North East States where it is enforced.

The final call, however, has to be taken by the Central Government, he informed.

Jairam Ramesh didn't comment on the possibilities of Manipur Progressive Secular Alliance (MPSA) entering into partnership with other party (ies) after the election and the number of seats they are expecting to win but nonetheless exuded confidence that Congress will emerge as the single largest party and form the next Government.

About JD (U) which is becoming a surprise package with some of the finest candidates, the Congress leader claimed that the party is just a B team of BJP and as such it would be better to rename it as Janata Dal (Biren) .

Jairam Ramesh also stated that there will be a Congress Government at both the Centre and Manipur after the 2024 Lok Sabha and 12th State Assembly elections.

Saying that Rahul Gandhi too will land in Imphal at around 11 am on a one day visit , the AICC senior observer continued that Rahul Gandhi will first visit Shahid Minar and then head to Nupi Lan complex upon his arrival and pay his respect to the brave souls.

From there, he will go to Hapta Kanjeibung and address a mega election rally, he said and added that Rahul Gandhi will also meet several office bearers of MPCC at Congress Bhavan before leaving Imphal.