IMPHAL, November 6: Congress is the real enemy of Manipur and not BJP as was alleged by Congress State president Gaikhangam, said Okram Joy replying to charges from the former of the BJP trying to distort the territorial boundary of Manipur.
Ex-MLA Langthabal Okram Joy was speaking at an election campaign for the BJP at Uchekon Takhok Mapan today.
He said Gaikhangam is the real enemy of the State as he was the second to sign the demand for the Naga-integration in 2005 which was submitted to the President of India.
The present government under the Congress, he said, is a company of corrupt MLAs who are looting the public money in the name of governance for the past 13 years.
Ever since Manipur’s merger into India, the Congress has only brought misery for the people and divided them into different groups, he alleged.
Soon after the merger, Manipur lost Kabow Valley under the Congress government in the Centre led by Nehru, he continued.
On August 4, 1972, when the MPP was in power in the State, the Congress under its then leader Hawaibam Nilamani had signed an agreement with the then United Naga Integration Council, the veteran politician said.
The agreement clearly stated that the Naga integration movement is not anti-State, anti-national, anti-party and not unconstitutional, he observed.
The same year as the signing of the agreement, the seed of distorting Manipur was sown by the UNIC led by Rishang Keishing then, Joy said.
On May 25, 2005, 13 Congress leaders including Gaikhangam had signed a memorandum which was submitted to the then President and Prime Minister of India, he said.
The memorandum, he said, included statements like “the leaders express deep appreciation to the government of India for acknowledging the unique history and situation of Nagas”.
“The memorandum also said that in the case of territorial integrity of the Naga areas, we believe it is a sincere quest and basic fundamental right of the Naga people to be under one political entity and live together. So we therefore fully support the aspiration of the Naga people for integration,” he said.
He continued, it is more than just the memorandum or the support of the MLAs or other leaders, but the involvement of stalwarts like Rishang Keishing which has hurt the sentiments of the people most.
He said the Nagaland Congress had in its manifesto published in 2008 promised that the party will work hard to achieve Naga integration of Nagaland and the Naga inhabited areas of other neighbouring States.
Joy said the people should be able to distinguish which political party is trying to distort the State.
He continued if the people of Thongju and Thangmeiband constituencies vote for the Congress, it will mean the people killing their own future.
There is a need for change and bring an end to the controversial reign of the Congress in the State, he said.
O Joy said the BJP likes a smooth and transparent government but the Congress is addicted to corruption.
Electing Bishwajit and Joykishan now will be the first step towards bringing a good government in Manipur, he added.
The campaign was also attended by BJP candidate Thongam Bishwajit, Dr RK Ranjan among others.