IMPHAL, January 18: The BJP Manipur Pradesh today staged a sit in protest in front of the party’s gate demanding sacking of Commerce and Industry minister Govindas Konthoujam following the Ningthoukong incident when the minister is alleged to have slapped a BJP worker.
The BJP today charged the Congress minister of disrespecting the BJP flag and the Prime Minister by using inappropriate words against the flag and the PM.
Speaking to media persons in this regard, BJP Manipur president Th Chaoba said minister Govindas’ misuse of power at Ningthoukhong is unfortunate.
He claimed the minister Govindas of threatening and dishonouring the BJP flag and symbol using inappropriate and uncultured language.
The cabinet minister had also used vulgar words threatening a Ningthoukhong Ward no 1 councillor candidate of the BJP A Tombi even to the extent of shooting her inside the police station.
Stressing further, he claimed the act was an overexploitation of political power by an elected representative like a gang member.
Chaoba demanded the government to sack minister Govindas within 24 hours and take action against the police personnel present in the police station when the incident occurred, and said if in case the demand is not met with, the BJP will initiate district-wise sit in protest from tomorrow.
If the government fails to take action even after that, the BJP will call state-wide bandhs and strikes and meet the State Governor before filing a case against the minister, he warned.
It is unfortunate that the Bishnupur district police while denying to lodge a complaint against the minister, has registered a FIR against A Tombi and her son, he claimed.
BJP MLA Kh Joykishan said the minister was following in the steps of the dictatorial style of governance of the Chief Minister.
Further lamenting the act of the minister as unfortunate, he asked as to why the CM was still silent on the issue.
Such incidents have been quiet frequent under the Congress government in the State, as ministers assaulting the common public has become a daily routine, he added.
The law enforcement agencies are afraid of the political leaders, he added.
It is the time for the people to decide whether the Congress government should continue and whether the Chief Minister is doing right of wrong, he said.
If such an incident had happened in other part of the country the minister would have been sacked within an hour of the incident, he claimed.
The Chief Minister should be aware of the fact that he is the leader of the people of Manipur and not just of the Congress party, the MLA added.
BJP Mahila Morcha national vice president A Sarda Devi said the minister should apologies before all women kind for kicking a woman and threatening her on gun-point.
She further appealed to all to fight such violence against women and children.
BJP Manipur general secretary Administration M Asnikumar also charged Govidnas of instigating the police to pick up BJP leaders from the 14 Wards under Ningthoukhong.
He said a BJP team had visited the victims at the Bishnupur District Hospital and had verbally apprised the BJP national leaders and the Union Home Minister on the issue.
He said the party will soon submit a complaint against the minister to the party’s national leaders.