IMPHAL, October 13: Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress Committee has condemned the incident in which AITC workers were prevented from attending a public meeting of the party yesterday by the State security forces deployed purportedly for providing security cover to the Chief Minister who visited Hiyanglam for addressing a public meeting of the Congress candidate at around the same time.
Speaking to media person in a press meet at the MPTCC office this afternoon, MPTCC spokesman P Premananda expressed disappointment at the coarse manner in which the ruling Congress government use State security personnel to prevent AITC workers from attending a public meeting in the name of providing security for Chief Minister Okram Ibobi who took the same route as the AITC workers for addressing a public meeting of the Congress candidate.
He further said that the Congress has displayed such uncultured behaviour before by organising a public meeting at the Langmeidong Public ground in front of the AITC candidate Dr Yumnam Radheshyam. It is the second time that the Congress has caused disruptions for AITC workers, he added.
Yesterday`™s incident was just a way of reminding which was the most powerful among the Congress, AITC and BJP candidates. But despite using the State security personnel, their intention of breaking the determination of the Trinamool remains unfulfilled. The turnout for the meeting was huge and beyond expectation despite the police causing hindrance to AITC workers. Those who gathered for the meeting showed their solidarity to Dr Yumnam Radheshyam, Pramananda said.
MPTCC vice president M Thoiba, currently the president in-charge, said two Trinamool Congress MPs have expressed deep concern for the people of Hiyanglam and Manipur.
The vulgar display of power by the ruling Congress yesterday was shameful and people of Hiyanglam must make the Congress aware that people cannot be bought with money during this election, he added.
We are confident that the AITC candidate will defeat its nearest rival, the Congress candidate, by a huge margin of votes as the Congress candidate Dwijamani has lost to the AITC candidate before, the MPTCC vice-president said.
Meanwhile, another MPTCC vice president MI Khan said the party was not raising any complaints to the Election Commission of India or the returning officer of the Hiyanglam bye-poll for preventing AITC workers from attending a public meeting yesterday because they have raised many complaints earlier but officials have always favoured the ruling party.