Manipur regressed during BJP regime; people of Manipur cannot be fooled with false promises:  Ex-CM O.Ibobi

Ex-Chief Minister of Manipur and Congress Legislature Party Leader Okram Ibobi has slammed the ruling BJP led Government for regressing the state during its 5 years of tenure. He took a jibe on Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the recent inauguration of 15 projects worth around Rs 265 crore and laying of foundation stones for 14 development works worth Rs 2,194 crore in Manipur on January 6, 2022. Okram Ibobi said, 'People of Manipur cannot be fooled with false promises. They are watching the government's acts closely. Citizens of Manipur are aware of various developmental projects which were initiated during the Congress regime and what the ruling BJP led Government is claiming to have done'.

Mentioning some significant projects initiated by the Congress Government, Okram Ibobi said, Manipur University of Culture, Manipur University of Technology and JNIMS were established after much needed consultation with intellectuals and subject experts of the state.  He said the previous government acknowledged the scientific temper and technological potential of the state's youth, hence it strived to make Manipur an IT hub by setting up Manipur Software Technology Park of India. He maintained that the Congress Government established NIT, Manipur during 2014-15 with its temporary campus at Mantripukhri, providing a four years course. He said the first batch of students completed their course successfully, besides the Congress Government initiating construction of a permanent campus at Mayangkhang over a stretch of 150 acres land area. The CLP leader said the Congress Government even installed a 33 KV substation specifically for the purpose. He mocked the BJP government for laying the foundation stone for the institute which has already started its second batch at the temporary campus. Ibobi said Congress is not jealous for laying the foundation stone for an already set up project, however people of Manipur would have been happier if a completed project was inaugurated instead of laying foundation stone for construction of the permanent campus which the Congress Government had already started during its rule.

Okram Ibobi also mentioned the construction of road connectivity from Imphal to Kasom Khullen via Thoubal, Yairipok at an estimated cost of around  Rs 400 crore loan from Asian Development Bank,  significantly shortening the travel distance from about two days to less than 2 hours. With a sarcastic smile, the Ex-Chief Minister said the same road was recently inaugurated by the Union Home minister. He went on to say that the Congress Government initiated construction of Imphal to Haflong road via Tamenglong, Kangchup with nearly Rs 1,600 crore loans from Asian Development Bank, but the BJP led Government came to power and now the status of the road is undecided. 

Among some significant projects by the previous Congress Government under the UPA led Central Government, Okram Ibobi said, the State Government approached the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to upgrade Bir Tikendrajit Airport to International level airport but it was first declined citing that the land area was not enough for international standard. The ministry had said that a  minimum land area of 400 acres is required for upgrading the airport. Ibobi said the Congress Government made all out efforts and acquired 500 acres of land from private land owners much to the appreciation of the ministry and was even dubbed as creation of history for providing required land at a go. Ibobi lamented that the Congress Government had set up necessary infrastructure for the airport but now the airport is still the same with no significant improvement by the ruling BJP government. Asking what happened to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's much proclaimed Imphal Smart City,  the CLP leader reiterated that people of Manipur cannot be fooled with false promises.

It may be recalled that in his address at the virtual event on January 6, Amit Shah alleged that the earlier governments used to indulge in politics round-the-clock, supported armed groups, and harassed the public in the name of ransom, kidnapping, drugs trade and bandhs. He claimed that PM Modi led Central government and CM N. Biren led Manipur government have jointly introduced the state to double engine development. He also claimed that the BJP government has made Manipur blockade free, bandh free and has taken it on the path of development and will also make Manipur drugs free if given a chance.