INC's Bimol Akoijam winds up campaign at Pishum
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 17 2024:
Election campaign for INC candidate professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam in the Inner Manipur parliamentaiy seat, which will go to the polls on April 19, concluded with a public meeting at Pishum Ningombam Leirak ground at 3.50pm Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering at the public meeting held under the theme 'Ima Leibakki Damak Oja Bimol', the candidate said it would be akin to adding salt to wounds if people succumb to BJP's call for honouring the party and elect party's nominee in the election.
It is the BJP government which is literally confining people of the state inside a 'fish-cage' for nearly one year which nobody should ignore, said Prof Bimol, adding that he decided to end election campaign with a public meet at Pishum with a promise to bring back peace, normalcy and prosperity in Manipur.
There were threats, intimidation, disruption and firing at my election campaign and even unidentified armed men came to my house to stop me from contesting the election but no such threats and restrictions were done to the candidate contesting under lotus symbol which the people are well aware of it, he said.
According to Bimol Akoijam, people of the state should not forget that those in the present administration are directly involved in the ploy to break apart Manipur with one clear example being the announcement by Kuki SoO groups in the last assembly election to support the ruling party, which was publicised widely in newspapers.
In the beginning of the current violence too, SoO group UKLF released a video questioning non-action to grant separate administration demand, a fallout of the hidden agenda exposed in the public domain.
To realisation of the separate administration demand, the entire Meetei inhabitants of Churachandpur were forced out and all Meetei localities reduced to ashes.
All these were done despite having a so-called popular government and in presence of police clearly indicating involvement of the administration in the present conflict, Bimol Akoijam alleged.
While asserting that politics by the present administration is very dangerous, Bimol said people of Manipur are facing serious threat of the 'divide and rule' policy with PM Modi hesitating to comment on the situation thereby implying administrative endorsement to the separate administration demand.
He also acknowledged that youngsters came out to defend the state due to failure of the government to protect the people and the state.
In his address, CLP leader Okram Ibobi, while noting that people of the state did not accord much importance to Lok Sabha elections in the past, emphasised that the upcoming democratic exercise cannot be taken lightly as it will determine fate of Manipur and India.
Taking into account seriousness of the situation both in the state and in the country, 10 political parties decided to field professor Bimol Akoijam as consensus candidate, he said adding that Bimol Akoijam is the right candidate who could save people of the state.