MPCC holds protest outside Assembly

“Don’t ever dream of a Congress-free India” said former Manipur chief minister and Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh as he hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP government at the Centre, during the protest against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification in Imphal on Monday.
The protest was held outside the Manipur Legislative Assembly complex, where the party leaders and members protested wearing black clothes while displaying a black colour banner read as “Democracy in danger”.
Leaders of the MPCC, like former chief minister O Ibobi Singh, MPCC president K Meghachandra, CWC member Gaikhangam, sitting party MLAs were among others who took part in the protest.
Later on, the protesters took out a protest rally on the streets. However, the police prevented them from further carrying out the rally near THAU ground at Thangmeiband.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines, opposition leader and former chief minister, O Ibobi Singh came down heavily on the BJP government at the Centre for murdering democracy.
He said, “Our democracy is in grave danger under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s regime. He is running a dictatorial government.”
There was no freedom of expression. The voices of dissent were suppressed using various independent and autonomous organs of the democracy, he said.
Every institution of democratic governance was being subverted by the ruling party and its government. “Government agencies were being weaponized to target opposition leaders.
Opposition members including Congress leaders were prevented from speaking in the houses of the Parliament, he added.
He lamented that democracy will not work without the voice of dissent or criticism.
Under the then Congress rule, citizens were given free hands to express their opinions, suggestions and objections against the government and its policies and programmes.
Even criticisms were always respected, he added.
He also hit out at BJP’s Congress Mukt Bharat campaign, saying that there will never be a Congress-free India. The party has a long tradition of sacrifice. Every citizen of the country was well aware of it.
“To do away with the Congress party is next to impossible. Don’t ever dream of getting rid of the Congress party,” he said.
The Congress is holding nationwide protests against the disqualification of their leader Rahul Gandhi from parliament.
Gandhi was removed as an MP last week after he was sentenced to two years in prison in a defamation case. He was convicted by a court for 2019 comments about PM Narendra Modi’s surname at an election rally.
The Congress has criticized the action as politically motivated and joining the nationwide protests, MPCC has been holding a protest from yesterday (Sunday) with one “One-day Satyagraha” in Imphal.
Ibobi said that the protest was being staged as per programme of the AICC and will continue to save democracy in the country.