Oppn Congress questions criteria of India Today’s survey selecting Manipur for its Award

Congress party in Manipur on Saturday ridiculed India Today group for awarding Manipur for the “Most Improved Small State (Overall) & Law and Order Awards”.

India Today group conferred Manipur the Most Improved Small State (Overall) & Law and Order Awards at its e-State of the States Conclave and Awards 2020 which was streamed live on November 27.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) general secretary, L Tilotama questioned the basis and criteria in which Manipur was chosen for the award.

She alleged that India Today conferred the award while the state scored negative grades in its administration, governance and economy status in their independent survey. The Congress leader alleged that the governance in the state is very poor. She also alleged that crimes committed against the women and children, particularly rape cases are on the rise.

The MPCC leader further alleged cases of drug trafficking and drug abuse are also increasing in the state. “Above all these things, in the recently concluded by-polls, cadres of militant groups openly campaigned for a particular candidate in a hill district. Apart from threatening voters, they even indulged in proxy voting in rampant manners,” the MPCC leader added.

She further added that the militants had also terrorised voters by foiling election campaigns of rival candidates by firing several rounds of guns. “Are all these incidents a sign of improving the law and order situation of the state?” she asked.

Tilotama also questioned whether the award was conferred to the state for its achievement in horse-trading of MLAs to save the coalition government.

NNN