IMPHAL, JUL 23 (PTI): Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam on Thursday said the ‘Save Manipur’ slogan raised at the ongoing students’ protests led by the CJP in New Delhi was to “mislead the youth” of the northeastern state.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has been spearheading the youth protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital over the NEET paper leak.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP’s state head office here, Konthoujam claimed, “The ‘Save Manipur’ slogan in Delhi protests is a technique employed to mislead the youth of Manipur. The state will be saved by us, not by those raising slogans at Jantar Mantar.” The strife-torn Manipur has been making efforts to restore complete peace and normalcy, he said.
The state has been witnessing ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups for more than three years. Over 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in the strife since May 2023.
“We must try to achieve the level of success made by other states,” the minister added. Konthoujam said the Centre has decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in the paper leak, and urged the youths to have trust in the Prime Minister.
He claimed that opposition parties are behind the students’ protests in the national capital, which are being branded as youth demonstrations.
“The Delhi protests are being shown as youth agitations, but we can clearly see the involvement of several political parties. The unrest is influenced by political parties including the AAP, the Congress, the SP and those who have failed in politics.”
The state home minister alleged that undemocratic means have been used to disrupt the monsoon session of Parliament and tarnish the image of the country.
“We strongly condemn such acts and agendas. Since the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government was formed, no parliament session has been allowed to be conducted peacefully by opposition parties. Opportunities to address and discuss critical issues have been wasted,” he said.
Konthoujam also alleged, “Even a conspiracy has been hatched to disrupt the monsoon session of Parliament by staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar by a newly formed party.”
Claiming that large funds are required to stage such protests, the Manipur home minister questioned where the money is coming from. “There are many countries which do not want India to grow and advance. However, the country will be able to achieve the vision of PM Narendra Modi by 2047,” he said
“There are many NGOs, which would be affected by the amendment to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. We all know that. I want to ask who is funding the food, water and other things at such big protests. On the contrary, the BJP is a party which seeks the welfare of the country and the youth,” Konthoujam claimed.
He said the prosperity of the country depends on the youth, and this is “well understood by the Prime Minister, who, in his speeches, often refers to the term – Young India”.
Responding to a query on the destruction of a bailey bridge in Kamjong district on Wednesday, he said, “The police are trying to ascertain the exact cause. One report says the bridge was blown up by militants from across the border, and the other indicates that it could be the handiwork of miscreants from inside the state to slow down the movement of Assam Rifles troops.”
