Shah incited communal tension : Cong

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 15 : The Manipur Congress Committee has accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of inciting communal tension in Manipur during his visit to Imphal today.
Addressing an election rally at Imphal's Hapta Kangjeibung today, Amit Shah brought up the Meitei-Pangal, Naga-Kuki and Kuki-Paite conflicts which may induce fresh tension, said MPCC's working president Kh Devabrata talking to media persons at Congress Bhavan, Imphal.
The Union Home Minister, he said, is a person who had visited Manipur during the early days of the crisis but never returned as promised.
He said Amit Shah bringing up the past conflicts among communities was unbecoming of a Union Home Minister.
He said while the BJP Government causes crises and is incapable of resolving them, Congress has time and again brought peace to Manipur.
Mentioning June 18, 2001, Devabrata said major conflicts and crises hit Manipur every time there is a BJP Government in the Centre.
He added the crisis [caused by the ceasefire signed between Centre and NSCN-IM] was resolved and peace was restored in Manipur only after the Secular Progressive Front Government came to power in the Centre.
Now after the BJP came to power in Manipur in 2017, communal conflict has erupted in the State, he said.
Devabrata further accused the NDA Government of taking credit for works initiated by the previous UPA Government and misleading the public.
"During the rally at Imphal today, Amit Shah claimed that the NDA Government, for the benefit of Manipur and North-East, has started fencing works in the Indo-Myanmar border.
"However, in truth, it was the UPA Government in 2012-13 that actually gave the approval for fencing 10 kilometres of the border," Devabrata said.
Besides giving the approval, zero line survey was conducted and recognition certificates were issued for constructing the fence during the UPA Government, he said.
Even though the fencing work was halted after issues arose about land loss, the then Government had proposed formation of a commission to look into the issue, he added.
Stating that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during the rally at Hapta Kangjeibung, had called Congress "Tukde Tukde Gang", Devabrata asked if the Congress party exposing the Central Government's and BJP's core defects and the mindset of their Ministerial circle was the reason for calling names.
While Amit Shah has said to have implemented the ILP (Inner Line Permit) System in Manipur, there is actually no mechanism to detect and trace those who have entered Manipur without the permit and overstayed permitted period, Devabrata said, accusing the Union Home Minister of lying to the public.
Former Minister Kh Ratankumar, who was present in the press meet, said the Union Home Minister was blaming the Congress as they are unable to resolve the Manipur crisis.
He said Amit Shah blaming the Congress instead of resolving the crisis is a sign of dereliction of duties as the Union Home Minister.
Lok Sabha elections in Manipur will be held in two phases.
Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency and some segments of Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency will vote on April 19.
Remaining segments of Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency will vote on April 26.