Prime minister Narendra Modi, who was greeted by rebel-sponsored total shutdowns in Imphal on February 22, said that the ensuing polls in Manipur will decide the state’s future for the next 25 years.
In his speech at a BJP election rally at Luwangsangbam in north Imphal, PM Modi claimed that the BJP-led coalition government had relieved the people of Manipur from bandhs and blockade.
“The BJP’s double engine government worked towards the overall development of Manipur in the last five years. Our work in the last five years has laid the foundation for the next 25 years,” he said.
The prime minister said that the BJP-led government under the leadership of chief minister N Biren Singh made Manipur free from bandhs and blockades. He then slammed the Congress saying that the latter was responsible for frequent bandhs and blockades in Manipur.
“Every region of Manipur is now relieved from bandhs and blockades which was the main feature of the state during 15 years rule of the Congress,” he said.
The prime minister addressed the BJP election rally at Luwangpokpa Multi Sports Complex in Imphal’s Luwangsangbam.
He said that the state has witnessed several governments in the last few decades. The decades of Congress rule had divided Manipur.
“Congress had divided Manipur between hills and valleys and played politics over it to their own gain. They are never interested in developing and improving connectivity,” he said.
“Congress leaders will come to the state and leave a bundle of promises which they will be forgotten after reaching Delhi,” Modi added.
Also addressing the occasion, Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh urged the people not to forget the initiatives that were taken by the Modi-led government at the Centre during the pandemic. He said that the prime minister who gave free ration for the last two years knowing the suffering of the people due to COVID-19 is here.
“He is the person who relieved us from the hardship of COVID-19 lockdown by providing free ration and free vaccine against COVID-19 and saved our life,” he said.
Prime minister Modi, who arrived in Imphal on a few hours visit to the state for BJP’s election campaign, was greeted by two separate total shutdowns imposed by armed rebel groups – Coordination Committee (CorCOM) and United People’s Revolutionary Front of Manipur (UPRFM).
Both the shutdowns commenced from 1 am of the day and lasted till the prime minister left the state, concluding his tour in the state.
Manipur will go to the polls in two phases on February 28 and March 5. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.
The BJP, leading a coalition government in the state, is fielding its candidates in all the 60 seats of the state assembly.
