IMPHAL, May 25 : Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for acting against secularism, president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee Gaikhangam alleged that BJP is not only anti-Christian and anti-Muslim but also anti-Hindu.
He was speaking during a consultative meeting and blessing programme of INC DCC candidates of Ukhrul ADC at Raphei Village, Mantri Pukhri today. INC candidates from Jessami, Nungbi, Chingajaroi, Halang, Chingai, Tolloi, Teinem, Somdal, Tongou and Kachai DCCs in Ukhrul district were present at the programme.
Gaikhangam who is also the Deputy Chief Minister appealed to the hills people to cast their valuable votes in the ensuing ADC election without fear and pressure.
Unlike the BJP, the Congress party believes in non-violence and truth. Be it Islam, Hindu or Christian, the party regards the people of all religion, he asserted.
Right to cast vote is the most important right that Indian constitution guarantees for the citizen of the nation. Voting in the election is for the good cause, Gaikhangam maintained.
Regretting that Ukhrul district is reeling under slew of troubles and unwanted problems which need to rectify so that peace and development in the district are not affected by it, he admitted that the programme could not be held in Ukhrul district as scheduled earlier due to volatile situation in the district.
He mentioned that politics is there to bring development, light the dark, bridge the gaps and uplift the poor people while adding that Zeliangrong Union and Kuki National Assembly were once separate political parties but dissolved later due to disunity.
Lamenting that involvement of non-political organizations in the ADC election will only lead to disunity and chaos among the communities which should be avoided, Gaikhangam exuded confidence that the INC will win at least 16 seats out of 24 in the ensuing election.
Referring to the recent statement made by a BJP Minister that all those who eat beef should go to Pakistan if they cannot survive without eating beef, he pointed out that six churches have been burnt down after BJP came to the power under the leadership of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister.
The special category status given to the north eastern states has been also lifted by BJP obstructing special funds sanctioned for development programmes in the region. The Look East Policy has been also converted into Act East Policy by the party just for namesake, he said.
Gaikhangam went on to say that the lifting of special category status from the northeast states will have adverse affects in Manipur which has immense potential in the field of tourism and sports as the two sectors need huge funds for its development.
He also said that the Central Government has planned to utilise Rs 20,000 crores for rejuvenation of Ganga River but only Rs 2000 crores has been earmarked for development of the entire country which is not justified.
Deputy Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly MK Preshaw who is also Chingai A/c MLA said that he had wanted to hold the programme in Ukhrul so that he could meet womenfolk and elderly persons of the district and share their grievances.
He expressed hope that there will be a huge turnout of voters in the ensuing ADC election to be held on June 1 and chooses INC candidates considering their potential to bring in development and growth in the hill districts.