IMPHAL, Feb 22 : Taking the blame game to new heights and repeating an earlier allegation, Chief Minister O Ibobi today alleged that it will not be wrong to say that the ongoing economic blockade has been jointly enforced by the BJP, NSCN (IM) and the UNC.
Speaking at the flag hoisting ceremony of INC candidate in Wabagai Assembly Constituency, Md Fajur Rahim, the Chief Minister repeated that the seven new districts were created for administrative convenience and add that this should not be interpreted as giving the land to any community.
Why are the Naga people against the creation of the new districts, wondered the Chief Minister and added that the new districts will help everyone and not people of any particular community.
Citing an example, the Chief Minister said that the creation of the new districts means that while it would have taken a day or two just to proceed to the office of the Deputy Commissioner and get some official work done, today this means that it can be done in a couple of hours.
It is obvious that the BJP is against the idea of ensuring development of the people and the place, added the Chief Minister.
Citing examples, the Chief Minister said that creation of Kangpokpi district should not mean gifting away land to the Kukis but is for the development and welfare of all the people settled there.
Likewise creating Kakching district is not gifting land to the Meiteis and Muslims but ensuring the welfare of all, he added.
Questioning the line of the UNC that the land belongs to their ancestors, the Chief Minister asked then why they pay house tax to the Government. The first owner of the land is God the Almighty and the second owner is the Government, claimed the Chief Minister and elaborated that this means that the Government can procure the land when it is needed.
Do the Nagas have the right to claim that the land is exclusively theirs, countered the Chief Minister and added that the land in Manipur belongs to the Government.
Alleging that the failure to look beyond the Nagas is communal, the Chief Minister said that such elements are the BJP, NSCN (IM) and the UNC. It is this mindset which led a BJP leader to say that the economic blockade can be lifted within two days if the Chief Minister steps down, alleged Ibobi further. Such communal minds can never form the Government in Manipur, said Ibobi and added that the BJP can never and will never form the Government here.
If all the people are united then neither the BJP led Government at Delhi nor any force in the world can defeat Manipur, added Ibobi. No holy book, including the Bible, the Gita and Koran would have endorsed an economic blockade to go on indefinitely, said the Chief Minister.
Though Wabagai is dominated by the Muslims, it is home to different people and all have been living peacefully together under the understanding of secularism as espoused by the Congress, said Ibobi. Urging the people to support the Congress, the Chief Minister said that it is the only party which is wedded to the belief of secularism and which can work for the welfare of every section of people.
The Congress will work for the welfare of everyone, said the Chief Minister adding that it has always given special attention to the needs of the minorities.
Among others, Education Minister Dr Ratan, DK Korungthang, MLA Surchandra, N Loken and Assam MLA Rockybull Hassan, and MPCC spokesperson Indira Oinam attended the flag hoisting ceremony.
Source: The Sangai Express
