BJP belittles PM's state visit
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 07 2011:
Contrary to high expectation of the Secular Progressive Front Government, the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh not announcing any specific development package for Manipur during his recent State visit with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi testifies that the Centre has no trust on the O Ibobi-led Government, construed BJP national executive member M Bhorot.
Speaking at a media briefing this afternoon at the Nityaipat Chuthek office of Manipur Pradesh BJP, the former MLA contended that with the exception of some amount recently provided to the State Government for development works of Loktak Lake the Prime Minister not announcing any development package clearly suggest that the Centre lacks confidence on the SPF Government.
Bhorot further claimed that denial of package inspite of proposal for a special package of Rs 6000 crores by O Ibobi Singh himself in the presence of the AICC chief Sonia Gandhi is a disgrace for the Chief Minister, and opined that such a denial might be an indication that Ibobi will not be reinstated at the CM .
Conveying that State BJP has no misgivings on the high profile visit, he however regretted that the arrival of the Prime Minister and the AICC chief was a waste of substantial amount of public money.
Explaining further Bhorot, who would be contesting the upcoming State election from Thangmeiband AC, said the aerial route taken by the VVIPs from Tulihal Airport upto Kangla inspite of elaborate arrangement along the said route has not only depleted the State exchequer in terms of several lakhs but is also an embarrassment to the general public who were expecting to have a glimpse of the national leaders.
Reacting to news report that some union Ministers, who accompanied the Prime Minister, were not provided seating arrangement, the former BJP legislator suggested that such a shameful conduct should not be repeated in the future.
On the Prime Minister's clarification that there is no proposal for setting up Supra State Body to resolve the Naga issue, Bhorot dismissed the PM's assertion as unconvincing with the contention that Dr Manmohan had tried to protect Telecom scam-tainted A Raja till the final hours of the later's imprisonment.
Taking into account the Prime Minister going all out to protect a guilty Minister like A Raja, his (PM's) stand on the Supra State Body issue remains suspicious, the former State BJP chief maintained while adding that the BJP is totally against formation as well as implementation of Supra State Body in Manipur.
Ridiculing the Chief minister's claim that no Prime Minister during the NDA regime had visited Manipur, Bhorot reminded the CM that Atal Behari Vajpai had actually addressed a public meeting at BOAT wherein Rs 90 crore package for development of RIMS was also announced.
He also said that BJP do not endorse the nude protest staged by MPP Youth Wing volunteers against the visit of the Prime Minister and the AICC president and suggested that such an act should not be repeated.
opining that what compelling circumstances prompted the MPP volunteers for staging such a protest merits introspection from all concerned, he also speculated that frustration as a consequences of prolonged economic blockade and failure of the Central Government for effectively tackling the issue might have triggered the protest.
State BJP unit's media affairs in-charge L Basanta Sharma and party's State secretary Yanglem Haokip were also present at the media briefing.
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