IMPHAL, Oct 6: The Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh castigated the BJP president, Th. Chaoba Singh, as a selfish opportunist who defected from the Congress after taking the best advantage from the party. He was speaking at a public meeting of the Indian National Congress was held today at Langmeidong play ground to canvass for votes in the bye-election to the Hiyanglam Constituency seat slated on October 17.
The public meeting organised before the residence of All India Trinamool Congress candidate Yumnam Radheshyam was attended by a large number of people. However, rallying behind their candidate, AITC supporters in massive numbers stood at the sides of the road in a row and protested against the public meeting which they claimed was meant to provoke the AITC candidate.
Many sitting Congress MLAs and ministers of the Manipur Legislative Assembly attended the meeting.
Continuing his criticism of BJP, Ibobi further said that criticism of a political party by another political party is quite natural but blaming the Congress without any rhyme or reasons is condemnable.
The State president of the BJP who rose up in the Congress ranks and even became the deputy Chief Minister with the support of the Congress left the party after getting all the benefits to his satisfaction, Ibobi said. But, the selfsame person is now criticizing the Congress to show himself in a good light, he added.
He further said that the assurance given by the BJP president to make the Hiyanglam AC a model village will remain a pipe dream because no funds from the Centre can be utilized without the approval of the State government.
Centre could not sanction any funds constituency-wise as it has to come through the State government, he added.
There are various kinds of economic packages which the Central government can sanction for the development of each and every State but it can`™t discriminate against a State while sanctioning funds, Ibobi said.
He continued that the Sports Academy which already exists and the Sports University which will be soon established can`™t be credited to the State government because it was only through the efforts of the sports players of the State who has always brought laurels for the country as well as the State.
The BJP must understand that every institution in the country was developed by the Congress party, Ibobi said, adding that the Congress will do everything it can for the welfare for the people of the State.
Stating that the Congress party till date has not lost the confidence of the people and its support, he appealed to the people to support the Congress candidate Elangbam Dwijamani in the Hiyanglam bye-poll to enable him to serve the people of the constituency.
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam said Dwijamani has a good track record in serving the people of Hiyanglam so people must vote for him to make the constituency more developed.
If the candidate wins the election, various kinds of needs for the people of Hiyanglam AC will be provided, he added.
