People know who is behind the unrest

IMPHAL: A former editor and five-time MLA representing Manipur’s Saikot assembly constituency, Telsing Ngamjang Haokip, 62, took charge of the state unit of Congress when dissension was at a peak and party MLAs were preparing to shift to BJP. He is also one of several tribal Congress leaders barred since August 2015 from entering his constituency after police firing and arson killed nine people during an agitation against three controversial “antitribal” bills. Excerpts from an interview with HT: How? The Congress is too deep-rooted in Manipur to be rooted out. The BJP is desperate and is going to any length, and the economic blockade by United Naga Council is part of its agenda. is an open secret. The NSCN-IM (Isak-Muivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland) is the backbone of UNC and they are associated with Naga People’s Front, which rules Nagaland and has stakes in Naga areas of Manipur. And everybody knows NPF and BJP are two sides of the same coin. It is for those who left the party to answer. As far as we are concerned, we believe in the leadership of CM Okram Ibobi Singh and his ability to see the party through. There are many reasons such as fulfilment of our commitments in the 2012 manifesto, equitable development in the hills and plains, and offloading burdensome institutions to the centre and funding peoplefriendly projects with the funds received.