Congress playing politics since beginning: BJP
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, January 18 2025: Accusing Congress of playing political games since the conflict broke out on May 3, 2023; Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has stated that the two Congress MPs from the state are the weakest characters, who are more interested in sweeping other's yard instead of their own.

Addressing a press meet held at Thambal Shanglen of BJP at Nityaipat Chuthek here on Saturday, BJP Manipur Pradesh spokesperson MLA Kh Ibomcha said that although the conflict involved political, religious and ideological differences, the government put the nation first since it is a state issue.

The party does not want to engage in blame game.

However, the people in Congress party know the governance system through and through.

While intermittent firings continue every 10-20 days, Congress has been continuously blaming the BJP government, PM and union home minister.

He continued that the cause of the violence is often alleged to have started from the rally organised by ATSUM against the Meetei's ST demand.

However, the matter of illegal immigrants getting permanent settlement has been the root cause.

In 1968, the then DC wrote to the district officers questioning why Kuki refugees seeking refuge should be accepted by the Kuki chiefs of the state and allowed permanent settlement.

At the time, Indira Gandhi was the prime minister and the Moirang Koireng, the chief minister during the territorial council phase of Manipur.

The Congress party at that time allowed the refugees from Myanmar to settle permanently in the state.

Subsequently, leaders of Kuki militants entered Manipur illegally from Myanmar and tried to bring in more refugees.

Amid this, the former CM signed the SoO with Kuki militant groups in 2005.Although a monitoring group was constituted, it remained in name only as the then government did not interfere with the illegal tax collections, smuggling of drugs and increasing poppy cultivation.

Instead, the Free Movement Regime (FMR) was promoted without any care for the future of Manipur in the long term.

Subsequently, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi and Tengnoupal districts witnessed an abnormal rise in population and establishment of new villages.

Ibomcha continued that the core issued of the present crisis was the government's move to stop the influx of illegal immigrants, and formation of a cabinet sub-committee in April, 2023 to identify and deport them.

Upon visiting and investigating the areas in Tengnoupal and Moreh, most were found to have been permanently settled in the areas, he said while holding Congress accountable.

The spokesperson then went on to say that the government issued an order for protecting Koubru and Thangjing, as sacred sites of the state, when they were targeted during the conflict.

He continued that a district is formed for ease of administration but Congress messed up the administrative system badly.

He urged the two Congress MPs to stand by their promises to bring about an administrative and political solution to the conflict, as stated in their respective election manifestoes.

He also demanded Congress to make it clear on its agreement with CoTU, which was mentioned in the memorandum submitted by CoTU to Rahul Gandhi, urging the party to fulfil its (CoTU) demands.

The ministry of home affairs, meanwhile, has been working hard to resolve the crisis all this time, he said.

BJP Manipur Pradesh spokesperson Mayanglambam Suresh, who also attended the press meet, said that while the people of Manipur know the core issue of the conflict, the two Congress MLAs are becoming increasingly ignorant.

He then chided the statements made by one of the Congress MPs, accusing the CM of grovelling and begging the new governor when he (CM) expressed hope that the new governor would help improve the situation in the state.

Suresh then expressed regret over MP Bimol's lack of knowledge in understanding that the security advisor had taken over the unified command from the CM after the involvement of external and internal aggression was known.

He questioned what the two Congress MPs have spoken about the core issue of the conflict in the parliament.

While the two MPs say that the conflict in Manipur was caused by foreigners, they failed to Understand the difference between the terms, foreigners and illegal immigrants.

Also,' the two MPs have not taken or raise any issues related to illegal immigrants, FMR and drugs, in the parliament proceedings.

He further questioned why the two MPs could not raise any questions if they are truly worried about Manipur, while mentioning that it was Outer MP Alfred who visited and met ITLF leaders in Churachandpur on April 10, 2024.Questioning whether the problem of illegal immigrants would be solved when Churachandpur and Kangpokpi could be accessed, and if Congress truly believes establishing access through districts is the core issue, Suresh further asked whether the demand for separate administration would ceased when inter-district travel is resumed.

He remarked that it is truly unfortunate to see the MPs who lack common sense and did not have any bottom line in slandering BJP before elections, fail to speak for the people or the fire raging in the state after leaving Manipur for Delhi post-election.

He further questioned whether Congress's manifesto, which the party claims to be accepted by the people, is the one accepted by the Kuki groups or the indigenous people.

After creating such confusions, the party's MPs from other states poked their nose in the state's issues.

One of the Congress MPs even failed to condemn the death of an eight-month old infant, who was brutally murdered in his constituency.

In short, the Congress MPs from Manipur are the weakest of all, who are more interest in sweeping other's yard instead of their own, he remarked.

Responding to questions from newspersons, Suresh stated that BJP MP and titular king of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba has moved an attention motion in upper house on December 9 last year, calling for immediate implementation of NRC in Manipur and completing the border fencing works as soon as possible citing influx of illegal immigrants.

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