Imphal: Hitting back at the alleged remarks made by Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Congress legislators queuing up to join his party, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Gaikhangam Gangmei on Tuesday termed the statement as false and baseless.
Speaking at a press conference at Congress Bhawan in Imphal, the state Congress chief clarified that no MLA of his party is set to or in the queue to join an “internally divisive party” like BJP. “The CM statement was an attempt to divert the internal BJP power struggle from the public,” he said.
The statement was allegedly made by CM Singh while he was speaking at a programme held at a party office on September 24 to felicitate five Congress councilors who joined the BJP. During the event, Singh also said that the BJP-led government in the state will complete its term and win the next assembly elections too.
Reaffirming the party’s stand, Gaikhangam further said: “Congress is a responsible political party and we are united. And unitedly we fight against anything that goes against the unity and integration of the state and the country. On every issue, our party clarifies its stand and there are no any dissenting views among the Congress MLAs.”
Questioning the ongoing state-BJP internal political crisis, Gaikhangam also said instead of maintaining the house properly, they are unnecessarily poking the nose which is unfortunate. “I would like to advise the BJP party once again that please keep your house in order and do not bother our (Congress) party,” he added.
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Lamenting the BJP-led government’s failure to address the core issues of the state, Gaikhangam also said that the BJP in the state is divided in the House and their internal crisis is an open secret. They are at loggerheads neglecting the core issues of the state.
Meanwhile, commenting on the speculation of the state government likely to implement the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2019 (CAB) during the winter session, Gaikhangam said that such bill is harmful to a state like Manipur.
Moreover, pointing at the ongoing Naga peace talks between the government of India and the NSCN-IM where, according to reports, the two parties will soon arrive at final solution before the end of December this year, the Congress leader informed that his party welcomes any dialogue or solution. However, the deal should be confined within the state of Nagaland. It should not affect the interest of the neighbouring states like Manipur, he added.
