Amit Shah campaigned for the elections in Manipur.
Imphal:
Simmering tension over the controversial AFSPA military law did not surface on Wednesday in Union Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah’s campaign for elections starting next week in Manipur as he pledged to hold peace talks with militant Kuki groups. of the state and bring peace in the next five years.
Now that the issue of Bodo’s militancy in neighboring Assam has been resolved, no Kuki youth needs to carry arms anymore, Shah said at an election rally in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, keeping completely silent on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. (AFSPA), which controls much of the northeast and has been in focus since a failed encounter in Nagaland in December that killed 14 residents and one soldier.
Militant groups such as Kuki National Organization and United People’s Front demanded a separate state for the Kuki tribe in Manipur. The government has signed a Suspension of Operation (SoO) with them.
“Have faith in us, we will talk to all Kuki organizations and new life will be given to all Kuki youth to enable them to participate in the development of the nation, of the hills and of Manipur under Prime Minister Modi,” said Mr Shah. †
“We put them (Bodo rebels) on the path of development and today no Bodo youths have guns in their hands. Instead, they have motorcycle keys, industry keys and laptops,” claimed Mr Shah.
The same has been done in Karbi areas and more than 9,500 people involved in militancy in the northeast have surrendered and joined the mainstream, the BJP leader said in the poll meeting.
He urged the people to bring the BJP back to power in Manipur for the second time in a row and claimed that Prime Minister N Biren Singh in the past five years has liberated the state from bandhs and blockades and moved the state to the path of peace and development.
He attacked Congress, claiming that during his rule the state was known for its militancy, drug and arms trafficking, blockades and corruption.
Under the BJP, these have all been replaced by development, connectivity, infrastructure, sports and industries, Mr Shah said, claiming the state had “transformed” in the past five years.
“During the time of the Congress, there were three Is – Instability, Insurrection and Inequality. During the BJP rule, the Is is Innovation, Infrastructure and Integration,” said the Union minister.
He claimed that the Congress wanted the people of the hills and valley to fight each other to fit into his politics, while the BJP has guided both on the path of development.
Mr Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to make Manipur the best sports center in the country, rid the youth of drugs and weapons and make them Olympic gold medalists.
The National Sports University is being established in the state while a decision has been made to establish one Khelo India center in each of the state’s 16 districts to tap into local talents and provide them with a platform, Mr. shah.
He said an “Olympic Park” will be built, spread over 10 hectares, to provide training facilities for state-level players so that they become international athletes.
He said the BJP government has been working hard for the past five years to end the violence in Manipur and make it an ideal state, and in the next five years it will become the best state in the entire region. to be.
Legislative elections in the state will be held in two phases on February 28 and March 5, with the vote counting on March 10.
