The MPCC president accused the Biren-led government of putting Manipur in the UN’s map of drug cartels. “This is the achievement of this government,” he saidz
TFM Report
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee MPCC president Govindas Konthoujam came down heavily on chief minister N Biren Singh-led state government and accused him of putting Manipur in the UN’s map of drug cartels. “This is the achievement of this government”, he said.
Taunting the chief Minister for his much-touted war on drugs, Govindas said there is no “war on drugs” but “den of drugs” in Manipur. “The chief minister is sitting silently in his chair enjoying the performance of the drug lords,” he added.
Drug smugglers dealing in less than Rs 1 lakh worth drugs are being arrested but not those dealing in crores in the state, said the MPCC president. He was speaking at “State-Level Youth Interaction & Social Media Training Programme” held at Congress Bhawan, BT Road, Imphal. It was organised by Manipur Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (MPYCC) under the aegis of the MPCC.
Underscoring that NFSA and MGNREGS were introduced during the Congress regime at the centre, Govindas contended that had it been not for these schemes, people of the country would have suffered immensely during the COVID-19 induced lockdown in 2020.
He urged the youth to speak out, adding “time has come to open our mouth, eyes and ears, come what may”. The youth need to make the general public aware of the knowledge that is available at their fingertips”.
Maintaining that the youth can steer the economy and politics of the country, Govindas exhorted them to take part in the scheme of things and added, “everything is in your hand”.
Speaking at the function, CWC member Gaikhangam informed that AICC has resolved to amend the 10th Schedule if Congress is back in power at the Centre. Suggestions have floated to bar someone for six years or for life to contest elections, if he or she jumps ship after electing on another party’s ticket.
Maintaining that stringent measure is the need of the hour, Gaikhangam stated that the spirit of the 10th Schedule has been violated at present. He also stressed that under current provisions, if not individually there are loopholes of changing parties in groups.
Taking a jibe at those Congress MLAs who have joined BJP in Manipur, he said “as long as there are frogs they will continue to jump”. He also added that “some ” will cry if the 10 Schedule is amended.
Of the 28 seats the Congress had won in the 2017 general election, there are only 17 MLAs in the 60-member assembly at the moment. The remaining were either disqualified or resigned from the party.
On the controversy surrounding the conduct of Autonomous District Council (ADC) election in the hill districts of the state, he alleged that the election is not being held for fear of the backlash from the people because of its “misdeeds”. Is the state government not confident of winning the ADC election, he wondered.
Floral tributes were also paid to Kasturba Gandhi on her 152nd Birth Anniversary.
IYC (Manipur in-charge) Sarifa Rahman, MPCC spokesperson K Meghachandra, MPYCC president N Mahananda, amongst others also sat on the dais.