IMPHAL, May 26: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today urged the people to have faith that his government will assure there is no shortage of funds for the Autonomous District Council members to work for development of the Hill States.
This is the irrevocable promise of the present government to the people, he said at the District Level Congress Workers`™ Conference in connection with the yearlong celebration of the 125th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar cum ADC election campaign meeting in Ukhrul.
The conference cum campaign meeting was held at the community hall of the Wunghon Village, Ukhrul.
He said today`™s programme was organised at the venue considering it to be a suitable venue for Ukhrul, Sadar Hills and Imphal East.
Ibobi said he does not take seriously all the talks being made in the run-up to the ADC election, however, several Union Ministers including Prime Minister Narendra Modi are spreading lies.
If the lies are repeated often enough, people will also start believing them and it is better if we could clear the air at the opportune time, the Chief Minister asserted.
Ibobi said, India was under the rule of the British for more than 200 years.
The Congress had played an important role in the bringing independence to the country, whereas there were none from the BJP, he asserted.
He said the mere fact that India is today the 3rd most developed country in the world has been possible only due to the 60-years long rule of the Congress.
The BJP had been in power for five years under Atal Bihari Vajpayee and it is one year since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, he said.
What development has the BJP brought to the people of the land, the Chief Minister questioned?
He said it was the Congress who had transferred power to the local bodies. It was also the Congress that worked for women empowerment in the country, he added.
None of these have been brought about by the BJP, Ibobi said.
All the infrastructure development witnessed in the State today were undertaken with funds sanctioned by the Congress when it was in power in the Centre, he continued.
Taking a dig at Union Ministers arriving in droves in the State ahead of the ADC election, the Chief Minister said in recent times the State has witnessed several Union Minister arriving in the State, however, instead of bringing any development packages for the State, they had enquired if there were any project which needs to be inaugurated or of which foundation stones had to be laid.
The Union Ministers visiting the State seem to look down on of the people of the hills, as they have only spoken lies, the Chief Minister asserted.
Elaborating further, Ibobi said the Centre can directly sanction funds to only a few institutes like the RIMS, Manipur University or the NIT, as for others, all funds should come through the State government.
India has a federal structure of government and the BJP government at the Centre cannot deny any necessary funds to the State government, he asserted.
Today`™s function was also attended by Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaikhangam, Commerce and Industries minister Govindas Konthoujam, RD & PR minister Francis Ngajokpa, deputy Speaker MK Preshaw Shimray, MLA Ksh Biren Singh, Saikul MLA Yamthang Haokip, ADC candidates of the party among others.