IMPHAL, June 20: The BJP, Manipur Pradesh has questioned the NSCN (1M)’s role in the recently held 6th Autonomous District Council Elections in Naga-dominated areas of Manipur.
A press release of the party has maintained that the entire electoral process was completely “rigged and mutilated” to ensure victory of the NPF candidates, backed by NSCN(IM) and, in effect, “defeating the people.”
“This unimaginable and unheard of electoral feat in the annals of democratic elections is the direct outcome of open and blatant rigging of the entire electoral process in the form of open proxy voting; booth capturing, kidnapping of BIP agents & supporters under violent threat and intimidation,” it stated adding that all such disturbances were handiworks of NSCN (1M) cadres under the direct control and supervision of one Lt. General (Retd.) Markson.
It continued that the Manipur Unit of the BJP also seriously view the lack of responsefrom the concern authorities despite several reminders.
The act of hooligan and criminal activities that tantamount to humiliation, intimidation and the third degree torture towards their workers and leaders cannot be taken in a light vein, it said.
In fact, citizens of the hill districts of Manipur were debarred from practising their franchise during the recent ADC election, it said.
It is also a fact that the workers of BJP Manipur Pradesh prepared for the democratic process for participating the ADC election in a free and fair atmosphere, it said adding that two months before the party switched to political awareness campaign among the people of ADC areas.
However on the eve of the election, NSCN 1M and its frontal band NPF workers threatened and tortured their workers and candidate in the Naga inhabited areas and it did not spare the village chieftains and Headsmen either, it said.
It is therefore, urged the central leadership to intervene immediately with effective remedial actions, so that it does not repeat again in the same old arena.
”People have been demoralised and the party has been let down and in the given scenario nothing short of surgical treatments of the cancerous trends that eating into the vitals of the party will improved. A remedial measure is the need of the hour and this action will help, retrieve and regain the loss of image of the BJP Manipur, it said.
Meanwhile, speaking to media persons, BJP Manipur Unit president Th Chaoba said the BJP Manipur Pradesh has opened a unit office in Tamenglong district in preparation for the State Assembly election in 2017.
Speaking at a press conference in the party office today, he said party officials including the Tamenglong district president, party candidates of the ADC election in Tamenglong district among others had convened a meeting to review the just concluded ADC election.
The meeting reviewed reasons behind the defeat of party candidates despite the BJP executing some good works in the hill district during the past two three months, he said.
Chaoba said the defeat of the party candidates have been mainly because of the money and gun power flex by the Congress and UG groups based in the hills, however, the election has been a success of sort for the party as inspite of all the hindrances and threats, the people of hills supported the party helping it to win 21 seats.
This means that the party has support in the hills and that the Congress has been defeated as it managed to win only 26 seats from 103 sitting members, he said.
Now, the workers of the party in Tamenglong have decided to work for the people with help from the Centre, he added.
Soon, a team of BJP leaders will leave for Delhi to apprise the Central leaders of the issue and at the same time put pressure on issues like the Dzuko Valley land dispute, bandhs and blockades, he said.
BJP Manipur general secretary Media L Bashanta Sharma said this time, either the Governor or the chief justice of the High Court should administer the oath taking and swearing in ceremony of the ADC elected members.