Ibobi lambasts BJP government as discriminatory

Imphal: Former Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and state Congress Legislature Party leader has criticized the BJP government centralises its power discriminating people and democracy by withholding Autonomous District Council (ADC) and Municipality elections in the state.

Ibobi was addressing at the launching of Congress party’s election campaign song “Laklo Chatsi Eikhoi Congress ka Loinana” at Congress Bhawan, here on Sunday.

He urged the people to give their verdict in support the party which can save Manipur. He said BJP is gradually eroding the democratic ethos left behind by Congressmen and freedom fighters.

He accused the BJP as dictatorial. He asked why the local body elections are being withheld in Manipur when the same were conducted on time in bigger states like Karnataka.

The elections for ADC in hill areas of Manipur were held during the Congress regime after being halted for nearly 20 years. However, the BJP led government fails to conduct the ADC election and the election for urban local bodies for valley districts has not been held in time, he added.

Ibobi said Indian democracy is considered to be one of the largest democracies in the world. But its meaning has been diluted in the state with the advent of the BJP government.

The present BJP led government encourages MLAs in frequent changing of political parties and violates the 10th schedule of the Indian Constitution, he said and urged the people to be conscious of such unprincipled practices.

Ibobi said Congress gave many seats to the women in the local body election and always advocated upliftment of women, ST and minorities. Congress always strives to balance the big and smaller communities by giving chief minister post to legislators from ST and minority groups such as Rishang Keishing and Abdul Salam, he added.

The election campaign song launching programme was also attended by AICC senior election observer (Manipur) MP Jairam Ramesh, Manipur -in charge Bhakta Charan Das, MPCC president N. Loken, CWC member Gaikhangam and MLA K. Ranjit among others.

Loken said the BJP government has been adopting various strategies in election campaign to gain absolute majority in the upcoming election by hook or by crook. But these efforts will go in vain as their government was formed with the support of five other political parties, he added.

Loken further said the government has done nothing and so BJP highlights CMHT, PMJAY and Ujjwala scheme in election campaign.

Not conducting of any recruitment exams through the Manipur Public Service Commission during this government proves their lack of concerns about educated youth, he alleged.

He said there is acute shortage of physicians in the state during the pandemic. Despite having around 300 qualified MBBS in the state, the government has failed to recruit them as regular staff, he added.