Ukhrul, Dec 21: Pointing to the over four-year delay in the Autonomous District Council (ADC) election, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president K Meghachandra on Saturday said that it violated Constitutional rights.
Interacting with the District Congress Committee (DCC) of Chandel at Limkhu Inn in Chandel district, the State Congress President stated, “The election to the Autonomous District Council (ADC) has been delayed for over 4 years now, violating Constitutional rights. Due to this delay in the election, the 15th Finance Commission has yet to disperse about Rs 500 crore meant for developing the hills.” He also pointed out that elections to local bodies have not been held for 2-3 years thus delaying development.
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K Meghachandra questioned the need to launch ‘Go to Hills’ and ‘Go to Village’ programs without funds. “These are beautiful words but the fund we are to get has been delayed due to no election and this is a violation of constitutional rights,” he added. “Where is the fund meant for the people of the hills gone?” he questioned further.
The State Congress President then stated that the people expected more from the ‘double-engine’ BJP government but instead, the government turned out to be a total failure.
Touching on the prevailing situation in the state, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president K Meghachandra stated that peace can only be restored through understanding and not through force. He said that he had not seen such a scale of violence lasting 19 months as it is now though he acknowledged there had been such situations before.
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Hundreds have been killed and thousands have been displaced, the Congress leader said, adding that even people from Ukhrul, Chandel, and the like have suffered. He stressed that the government, by enforcing proper law and order and by taking action against those going against the law, can help restore peace.
Speaking about his party’s prospects in the next election, the Congress leader exuded confidence that his party would be back to power and stated that the people have known the type of government the BJP runs. He added that people have suffered much and did not want the BJP anymore. Finally, he called on the people to appeal to the government to restore peace in the state.
DCC leaders, during the interaction, also expressed hope that Congress would flourish in the district and the state.
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Other members of the party who accompanied the Congress president to Chandel include Md. Amin Shah, Ex-MLA; S. Jiten Singh, Gen. Secy, (Adm), PCC; AMIR Hussain, Gen Secy (org), PCC; W. Shyamjai, Gen Secy, MPCC; H. Meghechandra, Gen Seay, MPCC; Siraj Ahmad, Gon Secy, MPCC; M.Sarma Devi, president, Congress Mahila; Anwar Hussain, Secy, MPCC; Ksh. Kennedy, Secy. MPCC; Malemkhomba Salam, and Mahila Congress office bearers.