NEW DELHI , Jan 19: Taken aback by unabated attacks on Congressmen in Manipur, the North-east Congress Committee has rushed to Delhi , seeking intervention of the party high command.
A delegation of the regional Congress body, led by former Chief Minister of Meghalaya and chairman of the body DD Lapang and SC Jamir is scheduled to call on Congress president Sonia Gandhi tomorrow to apprise her of the scenario in Manipur.
Underground outfits in Manipur have been increasingly targeting Congress candidates and workers, restricting their movement and hampering the party’s election campaign.
Militants have been indulging in attacks, ranging from shootouts to bombing. Mentionably, the Election Commission has deployed over 350 companies of Central paramilitary force in the State.
The Congress delegation, which is expected to request the party high command to move the Election Commission in this regard, may also meet the Union Home Minister.
Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has been making appeals to the underground groups not to target poll candidates, including those of Congress. “Casting of vote for a candidate of their choice is a fundamental right of the people in a democratic country. No force should suppress this right,” Ibobi said.
Meanwhile, the North-east Congress Committee is likely to ask the Congress president to expedite the process of granting formal recognition to the regional grouping. All the CMs, PCC presidents and CLP leaders of the Congress Party are members of the regional grouping. The body, which was earlier known as North East Congress Coordination Committee, has been awaiting its formal recognition from the AICC. In 2010, the body changed its name to North-east Congress Committee and adopted its constitution at Shillong in a conclave that was attended by party president Sonia Gandhi.