BJP seeks Cong's stand on separate administration
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 18 2023:
BJP has clear-cut stand not to cede to the separate administration demand with Union home minister Amit Shah giving firm commitment in this regard, claims BJP Manipur Pradesh and asked if the Congress party could announce its decision against the demand.
Addressing media persons at Thambal Shanglen on Monday, BJP Manipur Pradesh spokesman Johnson Elangbam said Manipur is in the midst of a critical juncture to decide on its future but it was very unfortunate that some political parties particularly the Congress has been taking political mileage while sidelining the issue.
Congress party did raised strong voice against distortion of Manipur but party leader Rahul Gandhi did not speak against separate administration demand when he visited the state and remained silent after he returned to Delhi, Johnson said adding that Congress party should declare its decision against separate administration collectively by both their state and national leaders.
According to Johnson, former president of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee K Thieri had openly declared support to separate administration demand and even issued statement in this regard twice.
In the same way, Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee too had supported separate administration demand.
However, the position of MPCC on separate administration demand is quite contradictory to stand taken by their counterparts in Nagaland and Mizoram states, he said adding that Congress leaders including AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi never spoke against separate administration demand.
When BJP unit of Mizoram took a decision to support separate administration on May 27, BJP Manipur Pradesh convened an executive meet the next day and condemned the decision.
The meet also decided to urge party's national leaders to take disciplinary action against Mizoram BJP unit for the decision.
The state BJP unit also submitted a five-point memorandum including no separate administration and protection of territorial integrity of Manipur to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a copy of the same to BJP president JP Nadda.
While asserting that BJP Manipur Pradesh is always ready to work collectively for restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur and the party widely opens its door for the same, Johnson said now is not the time to take political mileage.
Replying to a query, Johnson said seven out of the 10 Kuki MLAs demanding separate administration belong to BJP and party's state unit had already took a resolution to take disciplinary action against the BJP MLAs soon after they raised the demand.
BJP ManipUr Pradesh has already taken its necessary decision and it is up to party's national leaders to take action against the MLAs, he added.
The press conference was, also attended by BJP Manipur Pradesh vice president N Nimbus and general secretary Saratkumar.