Imphal, Feb 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today accused the Congress government in Manipur of spreading propaganda on the Naga accord and said there was nothing in it that was detrimental to the interests of the state.
"I assure you that there is no single reference of ditching Manipur people or their interests in the Naga Accord," he said at an election meeting here.
The O Ibobi Singh government was carrying on "false campaign and misleading the people regarding the Naga Accord," he alleged.
"The Naga Accord was signed one-and-half years ago. What were you doing? Were you in a deep sleep? All of a sudden you have woken up before elections. You are making false claims to mislead the people," the prime minister said.
The Congress government in the state has alleged that the details of the agreement have been kept "secret" as it "compromises the territorial integrity of Manipur."
The Naga Peace Accord, termed a 'framework agreement', was signed between National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and the Centre in August 2015.The signing of the agreement came after over 80 rounds of negotiations that spanned 18 years with the first breakthrough in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed.
Modi promises to end economic blockade in Manipur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today promised to end the crippling economic blockade in Manipur if the BJP comes to power in the state and said what the Congress could not do in 15 years, the BJP will do in 15 months.
He also launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, accusing him of "running the most corrupt government" and "taking 10 per cent commission".
"What the Congress government could not do in 15 years our (BJP) government will do it in 15 months," he said, lashing out at the Congress government for "failing" to provide jobs, infrastructure, and proper drinking water to the people.
Modi also accused the Ibobi government of spreading "false campaign and misleading the people" on the Naga Accord. "I assure you that there is no single reference to ditching the Manipur people or its interests in the Naga Accord", he said.
Ridiculing the Congress government, Modi said, "Naga accord was done one-and-half years back. What were you doing? Were you in a deep sleep? And all of a sudden you have woken up before elections. You are making false claims to mislead the people," Modi said.
On the indefinite economic blockade launched by United Naga Council (UNC) in November last year, the prime minister said, "It is the responsibility of the state government to make available essential commodities. But the people here are not getting medicines and other commodities.
"There is a blockade on the national highways for so many months, but no action has been taken. Congress is hand-in-glove with those who have resorted to the blockade. I told the state government that the Centre is ready to extend whatever help it required.
"BJP will form the next government in Manipur and no blockade will be allowed then. We will show how a government is run," he said.
The Congress wants to reap benefits by letting Manipur "burn" and by "pitting one tribe against another for the sake of the chair," he said.
"What kind of cheap politics is this where you make brothers fight against each other".
Attacking the chief minister, he charged "I heard that the state chief minister who has been ruling for the last 15 years is known as 10 per cent chief minister. It is for the people of the state to decide whether they want a 100 per cent honest chief minister or one who takes 10 per cent commission."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday blamed the Congress government in Manipur of not taking up necessary steps to end the economic blockade besides ‘neglecting’ development activities.
Addressing a huge election rally here at Langjing Achouba ground, five kilometres west of Imphal, Modi promised that ‘no blockade will be allowed if BJP is comes to power.’
The task to open the blockade and provide essential commodities was the state’s government, the prime minister assured that the centre was ‘always ready to help whenever need arises to open the blockade.’
Manipur is reeling from the indefinite economic blockade by the United Naga Council which is protesting the creation of Sadar Hills and Jiribam as full-fledged districts since November 1 midnight last year. The protestors say the state’s decision affects the interest of the Nagas while the latter maintains that the districts were created for administrative convenience.
Coming down heavily on the Congress party, Modi also claimed that jobs had been categorized ‘according to rates.’ Modi urged the people in his hour-long speech in Hindi to ‘give five years to BJP to do it in 15 months what the present ruling party couldn't do it in 15 years.’
Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar, in-charge of the elections in Manipur, Union DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh, Union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju, BJP state unit president Kh Bhabananda and all the BJP candidates to the elections attended the day’s election rally despite the boycott of Modi’s visit and shutdown called by a committee of some Manipur-based insurgent groups.
Dismissing Modi's statements, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh termed them as ‘false, baseless and not doing proper home work.’
In a press conference here, Ibobi clarified, “In Prime Minister’s speech, he says Manipur has no electricity. BJP would give 24 hour electricity if elected. But we’ve 24 hour power supply in our state. Even Gujarat has started to use Manipur model of power sector reform following a Power ministry meeting.”
On Modi’s statement that the ongoing indefinite blockade will be opened if the BJP came to power, Ibibo he wanted to know ‘whether the blockade will remain if the BJP was not elected.’
“I do not expect such statement from a prime minister,” he said. “He (Modi) also says before signing the framework agreement (between Centre and NSCN-IM), he discussed with a Congress leader. Who is this Congress leader? Can he name?” Ibobi asked. The chief minister clarified that the state government was never consulted before the agreement was arrived at, which was signed in August 2015.
If Manipur was not mentioned or there was no threat to the state’s territorial integrity in the agreement ‘why not they make it (agreement) public,’ he asked. On the BJP’s ‘100-day promise to improve’ the 220 km Imphal-Jiri route under the Act East policy, he claimed that no new projects are sanctioned even though ‘many central ministers visit the region.’ Also, he asked Modi not to politicise “sports and culture” issues in the region.
