Dimapur, Feb. 27: Predicting a thumping victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Manipur State Legislative Assembly elections, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has said that the party was all ‘set to win the polls with a sweeping two-third majority.’
“The coming election will be a watershed election in the political history of Manipur and the BJP is going to win a two-third majority to form the next government in the state,” a confident Rijiju said while addressing a 2200-strong crowd during a campaign programme of the 45-Chingai AC BJP candidate Sword Vashum at Talui village public ground on Monday.
Vouching victory for the party with a record margin in the Chingai constituency, he urged the gathering to vote for Vashum and not waste their valuable votes.
Underscoring the party’s commitment to resolve the Naga political issue, Rijiju asserted that BJP is the party that has understood the unique identity and political issue of the Nagas.
“Accordingly, a peace process was initiated to pave the way for final settlement of the Naga political issue during the tenure of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in 1997,” he recounted.
Rijiju urged all the armed outfits operating in the region not to disrupt activities of the BJP the same will be akin to closing the door on themselves and their future because BJP is the only party capable of resolving their issues. If they (armed outfits) would ever attempt to strike the BJP, where else will they turn to for the Justice?” he noted with caution.
He also came down on the Congress for harbouring ‘anti-Christian sentiments’ and said that Congress has an infamous history of its former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi forbidding St Mother Teresa from visiting Arunachal Pradesh to preach the Gospel.
Back in Manipur, the Ibobi led Congress government in Manipur is instigating economic blockade by creating seven new districts only to gain political advantage while inciting communal hatred among the different ethnic groups in the state.
Describing his first visit to Talui, the birthplace of candidate Sword Vashum, as a beautiful experience, Rijiju poured out his sentiments of being connected with the Tangkhul brethren.
Former minister Dr. Khashim said that the villagers are fortune to have centre leader Rijiju amidst them, adding it was an opportunity for villagers to highlight their problems.
Vehemently reiterating that the BJP was not ‘anti Naga, but for their development,’ he said that the BJP government on the contrary was doing its best to free the Nagas from ‘political bondage.’
