Cong rolls out red carpet for many ‘BJP Govt akin to dictatorship’

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 8: Former Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader O Ibobi has likened BJP’s double-engine Government  to a dictatorship.
The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today accorded a warm reception to 12 political personalities including ex-MLAs Dr Kh Loken (Sagolband AC) and Z Kikhonbou Newmai (Tamei AC) after they formally joined the Congress party.
Dr Kh Loken was serving as JD(U) Manipur senior vice-president and Z Kikhonbou as NPP National general secretary before they joined Congress party.
Speaking at the reception function held at Congress Bhavan, Ibobi said that the individuals who have rejoined Congress party were all former Congress leaders.
He expressed elation at their return to the Congress party.
In a State like Manipur which is inhabited by different communities, it is only the Congress party which would bring solutions through dialogue when any issue surfaces among the communities.
Congress party is not an ungrateful party nor does it have any inclination toward “use and throw” policy, he said.
The BJP Governments at the Centre and the State are just like dictators. People cannot speak out against them out of fear, Ibobi said.
People have not forgotten how a BJP Government was formed in Manipur in 2017 forcibly and fraudulently.
BJP respects neither the Constitution nor the principles of democracy.
Instead of putting in any serious effort to bring an end to the Manipur crisis, both the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister have been simply watching the crisis as if it is a festival, Ibobi said.
He asserted that people have nothing to expect from the BJP Government, and all development works have come to a grinding halt.
With impressive but empty statements, the State’s BJP-led Government has been acting as patriots while they are unable to do anything on the ground with conviction, he continued.
The State Government earlier stated that Gram Panchayat and ADC elections could not be held due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ibobi reminded before asking the Government why it is still unable to hold the elections even after the Covid-19 pandemic is over.
Instead of holding elections to Gram Panchayats and ADCs, the Government  has appointed some of their loyalists as administrators of both Gram Panchayats and ADCs, Ibobi said.
With the BJP Government acting like a dictator,  there may not be anyone who would be willing to contest the next State Assembly election on BJP tickets, he continued.
At the same time, many people now suspect that the BJP Government may manipulate rules and statutes to extend the current term of the State Assembly by another term.
If Congress party is elected to power, ADC and other local body elections will be held within three months, Ibobi declared.
BJP should not forget that the people are determined to teach them a befitting lesson in 2027, he said.
MPCC president K Meghachandra said that more and more people are losing their faith in the BJP Government.
BJP’s double-engine Government has made Manipur a lawless State, he remarked.
Z Kikhonbou Newmai said that his political career started with the Congress party.
“I’m happy to be back in Congress party. I rejoined the Congress party with a firm belief that it is only the Congress party which can restore peace and rapid development in Manipur”, he said.
Lok Sabha Member Dr Bimol Akoijam, CWC Member Gaikhangam, MLA K Ranjit, former MPCC president M Okendro, former Ministers Dr Kh Ratankumar, AK Mirabai, L Jayantakumar and former MLA N Loken were also present at the reception function.
The other individuals who joined Congress party today are ADC Tamenglong former Chairman Humaliabou, ADC Tamenglong former Members Ramwangdin Abonmai, MP Gwang, Tadinang Gangmei, social workers Lavner Chawang, Adim Thiumai, Manassen Ohawang, Achapbou Newmai, John Charenamei and Ramtinele.