IMPHAL, Dec 17: The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), Manipur State Unit, has excoriated the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram for sidelining the political parties and even journalists of the state during his recent two-day visit to Manipur on December 14 and 15.
Addressing a press conference at the office of BJP Manipur State Unit, the state president of BJP Sh Shantikumar Sharma stated that the recent visit of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram to Manipur was not meant for redressing the grievances of the people of the state who have been facing myriad problems owing to the months long economic blockade on the national highways. The Home Minister had sidelined the people of Manipur including political parties and journalists who are the important pillars of the society, he said.
Shantikumar further decried the Home Minister for being hypocritical. He said the Home Minister has assured the people of Manipur for keeping the territorial boundary of the state intact but on the contrary the Central government is having talks with the organizations like UNC and ANSAM which have been posing serious threats to the territorial integrity of Manipur.
He asserted that Chidambaram’s assurances cannot be taken seriously by the people. The double-standard nature of Home Minister has caused furies amongst the people of the state.
Moreover, Chidambaram’s statement over improved law and order situation of the state is quite misleading as even during his short stay in Manipur the cadres of NSCN-IM had hijacked 13 trucks loaded with FCI from Noney. The Home Minister had tried to dupe the people of Manipur, Shantikumar added.
The BJP state president strongly decried Chidambaram’s unwillingness to meet the journalists and place his views and commitment on the burning issues of the state.
The spokesperson of BJP Manipur State Unit, Salam Ibohal stated that the Centre as well as the state government is shouting for peace parleys in the state through political dialogue but so far no trustworthy platform has been created by the government to have peace talks with the insurgent groups. The whole drama in RK Meghen’s arrest is a clear example of creating distrust amongst the insurgent groups, he said.
If the matter of “homeland†has been considered by the government, then why there cannot be question of “plebiscite†within the framework of the constitution, Ibohal noted.
The Congress Party is even trying to sway the people in the ensuing Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat elections through money and muscle power. The true image of democracy has been marred by the very act of the Congress, the BJP leaders alleged.
