Ibobi suspects sincerity of MoS Ranjan
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 10 2023: Former chief minister 0 Ibobi lamented that a responsible union minister from Manipur is indulging in blame game politics instead of putting his resources and efforts toward resolving the crisis and restoring peace in the state.

Ibobi, who is also Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, also decried the union minister of state for external affairs blaming the Congress for the crisis in the state, instead of impressing upon the Prime Minister to discuss the Manipur issue.

Congress is ready to do whatever is necessary to resolve the crisis and to restore peace, Ibobi said while asking the BJP govern-ment to initiate the move.

Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhawan here on Monday, he said that people Manipur were happy to have a union minister and as the crisis erupted, politicians of the state were hopeful that the union minister will take proactive role in arranging meetings with central leaders including the Prime Minister and union home minister.

However, Union MoS RK Ranjan betrayed trust of the people by re-maining indifferent to the situation.

He also recalled how the Congress party took the leading role in meet-ing with Prime Minister and other central leaders by all-political party delegation from Manipur during the UPA rule when there were any issues of concern in the state.

Congress, on the other hand, despite holding no power, has been putting its efforts in restoring peace.

The party is always ready to do whatever necessary to resolve the crisis and they are waiting for the government to initiate, he said.

Ibobi recalled an earlier remark of RK Ranjan, who stated on record in an interview with a national media, about total failure of law and order in the state, and said that the capa-bility of the BJP government in the state in controlling law and order situation remains a big question.

Refuting the allegations levelled by the Union MoS, Ibobi asked the minister to furnish proofs of blunders committed by the Congress government.

He also pointed out that Rahul Gandhi's visit to the state was not a political trip but to interact with people in relief camp and to assess the ground situation.

The Congress leader further said that his party has been demanding a special session of the state assembly since the violence broke out in order to take a strong resolution and to assess the situation.

The party had also made similar appeal to the Governor.

The state cabinet can take a resolution for a special assembly session, he suggested.

Ibobi said Congress delega-tion went to Delhi and sub-mitted memorandum to the President of India.

They tried to meet Prime Minister but PM Modi went to the US.

After re-turning to Imphal, the Congress party sought an appointment to meet union home minister Amit Shah but their request was not entertained, he added.

MPCC president MLA K Meghachandra, MLAs K Ranjit, Th Lokeshwar, former deputy chief minister Gaikhangam, former minister Ak Mirabai and senior members of MPCC were also present at the press meet.

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