Rampant corruption has marred completion of development projects in Manipur: Kiren Rijiju
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 06 2014: While acknowledging Manipur's status as a fore-runner in the field of culture and sports, Union MoS home affairs Kiren Rijiju claimed that the state has lagged very far behind in the race for development and the level of corruption is very high.

The minister made the statement while giving the chief guest address at the flag hoisting ceremony of Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate for the Hiyanglam AC bypoll Maibam Dhanabir today.

Rijiju expressed unhappiness at the fact that despite its revered position in the fields of sports and culture, the state is lying at the bottom in the scale for development.

Illustrating a reason for his dissatisfaction, he brought up the issue of the lengthy amount of time he had to endure in travelling from Imphal to Hiyanglam due to the bad roads, although the distance is quite short.

Union MoS home affairs Kiren Rijiju at Hiyanglam

He alleged that rampant corruption has marred the completion of development projects though huge amounts had been handed over to the state for the same.

He further held the Congress government responsible for its failure in bringing development in Manipur even after continuation at the helm of power for a long time.

At the same time, Rijiju maintained that under the leadership of prime minister Narendra Modi, the BJP government at the Centre has already taken up significant plans for eradication of corruption and the affairs in Manipur will ultimately come under the radar.

He told the gathering that the success of Dhanabir at the by-election will mark a positive turning point in the political history of Manipur, signified by surge in flow of developmental projects.

He blamed the wrong policies of the Congress regime in the state for the escalation in number of underground organisations and UG-related problems.

He promised welfare programme for the insurgents returning to the mainstream including security and employment benefits.

The union minister envisaged that in addition to augmenting the sporting potential of Manipur, the proposed sports university in the state will bring about substantial employment generation.

He further promised to scrupulously review the existing road condition in the state and forward the findings to the ministry concerned for action.

Rijiju said he will return to Manipur in November or December again for a more extensive tour of the state, including a visit to the border town of Moreh.

BJP state president Th Chaoba spoke about the all-round underdevelopment of the constituency and cited the demotion of the lone higher secondary school to high school level and government reluctance in the development of Pumlen Pat and other popular water bodies as examples to strengthen his claim of government apathy towards the constituency.

During the function, the manifesto of the BJP was also released.

Among other it promised to bring about a corruption free Manipur, to make Hiyanglam into an environment friendly constituency, accommodation of community partnership for a well-being society and eco-restoration of Pumlen Pat and Khoidum Pat besides plans to upgrade the Wabagai High School into a higher secondary or junior college status and revival of Pole Star College under provision of the UGC; provision for installation of community base solar power sub-station and creation of solar lighting facilities for households; and economic upliftment and improving road connectivity in the constituency.