Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was on a one-day visit to Manipur on Wednesday, assured to end the Kuki insurgency problem in the state if the Bharatiya Janata Party is voted to power for the second time in Manipur.
"If you help the BJP form government in Manipur again, I assure you that we will have deliberations with all rebel groups and bring peace in the hills," Amit Shah said during an election rally held at Hiangtam Lamka public ground in Churachandpur. He was accompanied by Chief Minister Biren Singh, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other party leaders.
The Union minister also said the BJP will ensure that there will be no more insurgency as the party did with the Bodo Territorial Council, where the youths laid down arms and now there is development.
"Now, instead of guns they carry laptop, vehicle key, etc while in the Dimasa region too thousands of youth laid down arms and so if the BJP come back for another five years there will be development and peace in Churachandpur District.
"From Bodoland issues to Bru-Reang, we've solved several issues. In Karbianglong, over 9,500 youth have given up arms and returned to the mainstream. We want to bring all youth in the Northeast back to the mainstream and do all-round development for the people in the region," he added.
There are nearly 30 Kuki insurgent groups in Manipur and 25 groups are under tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Government of India and the state under since 2008. Of this, 17 are under the umbrella group Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and eight under the United People’s Front (UPF). Political dialogues are under way.
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While addressing the huge gathering at the rally, Amit Shah also took a swipe at the Congress party, saying that it is known for the three 'I' - Instability, Insurgency and Inability, while the BJP stands for Innovation, Integration and Infrastructure. Manipur will be one of the best State in North East India under the BJP government, he said.
Urging the people to vote for Chief Minister Biren Singh, the Union minister pointed out that Biren Singh had launched innovative schemes and programmes that was never witnessed in Manipur’s history, like 'go to hills, 'cabinet meetings at Churachandpur which unite the hill and valley unlike the Congress party which divide the hills and valleys.
Biren also spoke at the event and highlighted his governement's achievements. He said Churachandpur district is the second town/city of Manipur which had a high literacy rate and thus it is important to see what took place in the last five years of the BJP-led government. He also recalled how nine tribal martyrs were kept at the morgue for 630 days in want of justice from the then Congress rule government which was solved by the BJP within two months after it formed the government.
A door to door campaign was organised prior to addressing the rally in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi.
Manipur will go to polls in two phases on February 28 and March 5 and counting of votes will take place on March 10. Churachandpur, which is a Kuki-dominated district, has six assembly constituencies namely Tipaimukh, Thanlon, Henglep, Singhat, Saikot and Churachandpur.
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Door-to-Door Campaign
Union Home minister, Amit Shah also conduct door to door house campaign at Bhramapur Aribam Leikai on Wednesday after attending one day public meeting at two different places of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi district.
To receive the Union Home minister, the Bhramapur Aribam Leikai road (New Thumbuthong road) was blocked and BJP supporters form human chains on both the side of the road starting from Loklaobung bridge (New Thumbuthong bridge) upto Youth Club Bhramapur.
One of the female BJP supporters said, “what is the meaning of standing in line for hours if we even cannot see Amit Shah. This is the waste of time.” Later, the Union Home Minister’s team also met leaders of Bazar community and had a close-door meeting.
Amit Shah campaigns for three MLAs of Kangpokpi
Barely four days ahead of the first phase poll, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah landed at Kangpokpi for the second time after his visit in 2017 campaigning for the three BJP MLAs of Kangpokpi district.
The Union Home Minister landed at South Changoubung Helipad at around 4:30 pm few kilometers away from Kangpokpi District Headquarters and reached Kangpokpi District Headquarters at around 4:45 pm where thousands of people across Kangpokpi welcome him with a slogan, “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, “BJP Zindabad”, “Narendra Modiji Zindabad”, “ Amit Shahji Zindabad”, “N. Biren Singh Ji Zindabad”, etc.
Right after he arrived at Brig. M. Thomas Ground at Kangpokpi District Headquarters, the Union Home Minister addressed the mammoth gathering for a few minutes and left for Imphal at around 5:00 pm.
During his short speech, the Union Home Minister said that I have come here to appeal to the people of Kangpokpi to vote for the three BJP candidates of Kangpokpi, Nemcha Kipgen, Saikul’s Yamthong Haokip, and Saitu’s Ngamthang Haokip.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and N. Biren Singh in Manipur peace has begun to sprout in Manipur as insurgency, bandh, blockade, etc. started to vanished from the state only after the BJP came into power... We will bring the Kuki militant groups into the mainstream and solve their problems to bring long-lasting peace if they vote the BJP into power,” he asserted.
He also said, "We know Kangpokpi is dominated by a diverse community and we will take on board all the community and we will not leave any community behind as BJP is the only inclusive party in the nation. Manipur CM, N Biren Singh has done tremendous work and left no stone unturned for inclusive governance and development of all communities in the state".
Meanwhile, BJP candidate of Kangpokpi, Nemcha Kipgen, who is also the sitting MLA, while welcoming the Union Home Minister to the land of Jewel (Sanaleibak), said that it is a clear reminder to the people of Manipur that our central leaders work in line with the vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards inclusive development-Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Aur Sabka Biswas.
Kipgen said that the Kangpokpi constituency is inhabited by different communities and today we come together as one to recommit and reaffirm our support to the BJP as the existing bond between my people and the party has been strengthened. She also said that the august presence of the Union Home Minister for the second time in Kangpokpi has not only shown his dedication towards the people of Kangpokpi but has also guaranteed that the BJP will once again emerge victorious in Kangpokpi and as well as in Manipur.
