No fuel to run BJP's double engine: Jairam Ramesh
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 15 2021: Congress MP and Election Observer for Manipur Jairam Ramesh has contended that Manipur, which is inhabited by different communities and having its own unique culture, cannot be governed from Delhi.

A one-day political conference was organised by Nambol Block Congress Committee at the Chandrashekhar multipurpose hall in Leimapokpam on Monday afternoon.

Speaking on the occasion, MP Jairam Ramesh remarked that RSS and BJP are formed by a group of people from Delhi and Nagpur.

Thus, RSS and BJP cannot possibly hope to govern Manipur, which has its own unique culture and is inhabited by different communities.

"Congress has always worked to unite the country while BJP has been creating communal divide.

Thus, time has come to bring changes in the country.

In Manipur's context, the state could be considered to have been in the dark ages two decades ago.

But after the CM Ibobi-led Congress government came to power in 2002, the state developed significantly in every aspect.

Government employees, who at one time, failed to receive their salaries for months could finally get the same regularly.

"Presently, the existence of the BJP government at both the centre and in the state, has equated the state government to having two engines.

However, the double engine neither has the fuel nor the power for operation.

Hence, it is only a matter of 2 3 months after which we can bid farewell to the ruling government," Jairam contended.

In his speech, CLP leader and ex-CM O Ibobi remarked that it is amusing to see BJP claiming the projects/schemes taken up during Congress' rule as their own initiatives.

One such scheme is MGNREGS, which was launched as a pilot project by then UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, with unlimited budget.

However, under the present government, the internationally recognised scheme has become a liability for the workers who have not received their wages for a long time.

"The people know the truth though BJP has been falsely claiming credit for National Food Security Act (NFSA) and AGGVY scheme, along with various grounds, hospitals, mini secretariates, schools, colleges and other structures in Imphal, which were set up by the then Congress government.

Even now, the government is trying to fool the people by distributing LPG connections during the Go to Hills and Go to Village programmes.

The price of cooking gas, which used to cost Rs 450 per refill, has now doubled, putting immense burden on the poor and low-income households, while BJP is engrossed in publicity and propaganda," he remarked.

Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president and MLA N Loken observed that people assume BJP to be strong due to the over-abundance of the flags and posters of BJP candidates in a single constituency alone, which is not true.

BJP will not return to power in the state after the election in 2022 and in the centre after 2024.The party (BJP) is unable and would not be able to provide a list of 14 names which could win the polls for sure.

"The ruling government is launching a scheme every other week.

However, people cannot avail the benefits of the schemes, some of which include the Widow and Old Age Pension Schemes.

It would be good if BJP stop using such tactics and understand that the people are waiting to teach the party a lesson in the upcoming polls.

"BJP should further remember that there are many in the state who have the ability to grasp the hand of politicians and teach them.

BJP is not benefitting the people by naming the schemes in Hindi and Sanskrit.

In addition, the BJP government did not even provide monetary aid to Community Home Quarantine Centres during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It claims to have provided free rice but the reality is different as it continues to hike prices of daily essential items like fuel.

If BJP were to return to power in 2022, Manipur will disappear, as if it had been swallowed by a tsunami," he remarked.

The political conference was attended by AICC CWC member Gaikhangam, MPCC working president I Hemochandra, Nambol Block Congress Committee president N Lokendra and other important members of the party.

Comment