FA has put State BJP on the back foot: Ibobi
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 17 2018: The Framework Agreement signed between the Government of India and NSCN-IM on August 3, 2015 has literally put BJP Manipur Pradesh on fire, asserted Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Okram Ibobi.

A protest rally was held today at Soibam Leikai, Wangkhei Khunou Citizens' Club ground today on the many burning issues of the State under the Wangkhei Block Congress Committee and Imphal East Women District Congress Committee.

Speaking at the gathering, ex-Chief Minister O Ibobi stated that he does not have any intention to speak against the incumbent Government which is yet to complete even two years.

He also acknowledged people's support which enabled Congress party to rule the State for 15 consecutive years.

"But we are compelled to speak out against the Government by the myriad issues besieging the State such as the Framework Agreement, the border row with Myanmar, Manipur University crisis etc", Ibobi said.

Now it has been reported that a Bill on the Framework Agreement would be tabled in the Parliament which is scheduled to begin from July 18, he said.

Congress party, as a responsible political party, cannot remain silent to interlocutor RN Ravi's statement that the Framework has reached its final stage and a Bill would be tabled in the monsoon session of Parliament for the same statement is full of political implications.

It is time for hectic consultation with all the people and it is not about making allegations against the incumbent Government to score political mileage, Ibobi said.

The UPA Government during its 10 years consulted all concerned States on the protracted political dialogue with NSCN when the need arose but the incumbent NDA Government as well as its previous avatar never consulted concerned States about the political dialogue.

The incumbent NDA Government signed the Framework Agreement with NSCN-IM without consulting any of the concerned States.

18 people lost their lives when the Government of India signed the Bangkok Declaration with the rebel outfit by inserting the outrageous clause 'without territorial limits'.

Some sections said that Congress party was creating a political issue out of the Framework Agreement by persistently demanding disclosure of its the contents.

Now, BJP Manipur Pradesh is literally sitting on fire.

None of their MLAs, leaders and the president who is also a Rajya,Sabha MP are at Imphal, Ibobi asserted.

Congress party has been demanding disclosure of the contents of the Framework Agreement as the party has strong apprehension that it may explode any time like a devastating time-bomb, Ibobi continued.

Saying that Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and a Bill on the Framework Agreement may be tabled in the upcoming Parliament session, the ex-Chief Minister said that they cannot overlook the burning issues of the State even if the ruling parties do not want to discuss these issues in the State Assembly session which commences from July 20.All these sensitive issues must be tackled collectively but prostrating before Central leaders will not work.

"Manipur though small is a State and we are descend-ents of those brave forefathers who abhorred servility of any kind", Ibobi asserted.

The situation demands collective struggle cutting across political differences.

Instead of sticking to the decision of holding the Assembly session only for two days, the session must be extended for some days so that the burning issues are deliberated threadbare and the House adopts some concrete resolutions, Ibobi said.

Congress party is always open to the idea of raising these issues collectively with the ruling parties before the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and other Central leaders, Ibobi added.

MLA K Ranjit said that BJP wrested power by crooked and undemocratic means.

Rather than inviting Congress party which won 28 seats, the Governor invited BJP which won just 21 seats to form Government.

MLA T Robindro elected from Thanga AC came to Congress party offering his support in forming Government.

MLA Ashabudin elected from Jiribam was also coming to Imphal from Guwahati but he was detained by CISF at Imphal airport at the behest of BJP.

Later, he was taken to Assam in a helicopter.

This was how the BJP-led Government was formed, Ranjit said.

He said that the issue of border pillars is a very old one.

Border fencing work was halted when the Congress Government led by O Ibobi asked the Centre to first identify the correct positions of the border pillars.

Whereas the Congress party safeguarded the State's boundary for 15 years, the BJP-led Government has been working to give away Manipur's territory within 15 months of assuming power, Ranjit alleged.

He went on to ask whether this is what BJP promised to accomplish within 15 months what Congress could not in 15 years.

Once the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill is passed, Manipur would be turned into a dumping ground for waves after waves of immigrants and the State's demography would alter irreversibly.

Ranjit further asked if the NDA Government has been scheming to exterminate all indigenous peoples.

of the North East.

It was during Chief Minister O Ibobi's that Manipur University was converted into a Central University at his initiative.

But again, Chief Minister N Biren has been working to abolish the university within 15 months of assuming power.

"I have seen and met many political leaders but I had not seen a single leader who prostrated before Central leaders just to secure the seat of Chief Minister", Ranjit said.

Indian Youth Congress president Kesav Chand Yadav, MPCC spokesman M Manaobi, ex-MLA RK Anand, ex-MLA Dr Ng Bijoy, MLA AK Mirabai, MLA N Loken and MLA Th Lokeshore too spoke at the protest rally.

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