‘No blockade will be allowed once BJP comes to power’
PM blames Cong for economic blockade, says in 15 months his party will match development done by rival in 15 years
MANIPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday blamed Manipur’ s Congress government for not taking the necessary steps to end the economic blockade that has crippled the north-eastern state.
“Isn’t it the state government’s task to open the blockade and provide essential commodities? How are they running the government? No blockade will be allowed once the BJP comes to power,” he said and added that if voted to power, in 15 months his party would match the development done by the Congress 15 years.
Manipur has been crippled by an economic blockade, spearheaded by the United Naga Council (UNC) since November to protest against the creation of Sadar Hills and Jiribam districts. UNC maintains that the creation of the districts will hamper the inter- ests of the Naga ethnic group members, while state authorities say that the new districts were created for better administrative convenience.
Addressing a rally at the pollbound state’s Langjing Achouba ground, the PM dismissed the allegations that the August 2015 agreement between Centre and NSCN (IM) might affect Manipur’s territorial integrity. The PM accused the state’s Congress government of misguiding the people on the issue in an attempt to win the elections. “There was not even a mention of the word Manipur (in the agreement),” he added.
Modi also attacked the Congress for ‘ruining’ the state by not providing jobs on the basis of merit. He said jobs were categorised on the basis of ‘rates’ of bribes required to be paid to get a post.