Gunmen attack Congress VP's house
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 12 2023:
Unidentified armed persons attacked the house of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) vice-president and senior spokesperson Hareshwar Goswami at Wangkhei Konsam Leikai on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
The perpetrators, who came in a car, fired around 10 shots from outside the gate and fled the scene.
Later, 10 empty casings of 9 mm bullets were recovered from the scene.
Decrying the attack, former chief minister and CLP leader Okram Ibobi said that running a government with threat and violence is not a wise act.
Addressing a press conference at Hareshwar Goswami's residence on Sunday afternoon, Ibobi questioned the purpose of having a democratic government if nobody is allowed to say anything against the government.
The public are feeling uneasy to criticise misdeeds of the government but they are definitely condemning such act of violence and injustice in their hearts.
However, Congress will not be intimidated but always raise its voice and keep its observation, which is a right guaranteed by the Constitution of the country as a democratic country, he maintained.
While stating that the Congress believes that all the people are members of the same family and have the right to express what is in their mind, Ibobi said the party respects the Constitution similar to members of any religion respecting their holy books.
As such, the series of attacks carried out on Congress party and its members as well as at the office is highly condemnable.
Attacking the party's office and attempting to burn down the office is not justifiable, he maintained and lamented increase in such uncivilised acts.
With regard to the latest attack on the house of Hareshwar Goswami, Ibobi expressed hope that the state police will accord top priority in investigating the incident and take up swift legal actions.
Ibobi further said that the way the government is ruling the state clearly shows its intention of wiping out democracy and advocating dictatorship.
This has come at a time when there are only a couple of dictators left in the entire world.
The world had rejected such rule and yet the government in the state is trying to re-enact such rules in the state.
Reminding that such dictatorship will not last long in the state as the public will get fed up, he opined that the only reason the public are remaining silent is that they do not want to face the government directly.
The former chief minister recalled the contribution of Congress in the freedom movement of the country.
On the other hand, the role of chief minister, who also holds the home portfolio, is immense for promoting peaceful environment in the state and enhancing the profile of democracy, he said and wondered if democracy still exists in the state.
Despite the dire situation and intimidations, Congress party will always stand strong to save the democracy.
The more threats and intimidation they face, the more the Congress members will rise up and fight the injustice, he affirmed.
Recounting the incident, Hareshwar Goswami said that his family members heard the noise, which they thought as some youths bursting firecrackers.
However, in the morning, locals found bullet casings at their gate after which they realised that it was an armed attack.
They found 10 empty bullet casings and a complaint has been lodged at Porompat police station following which an FIR was registered, he said.
Deputy CLP leader MLA K Ranjit, ex-minister Md Amin Shah and party spokesperson N Bhupenda were also present at the media briefing.
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