IMPHAL: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday gave a clarion call to the people of Manipur to effect a change this time and assured of taking steps for the repeal of the AFSPA if voted to power.
Addressing a meeting here for the January 28 Assembly election, Ms Banerjee said, ” The people of Manipur need a total change. The state is extremely backward as compared to other states. There is no proper road, no drinking water, no electricity and several important roads are full of dust particles. ”
Alleging that the law and order situation in the state had come to an alarming pass, she said change was the need of the hour.
The Trinamool Congress supremo assured if her party was voted to power, the Army rule would come to an end and the AFSPA would be repealed. She also went to JNIMS to meet Irom Sharmila, who for the past ten years had been fasting to demand repeal of the AFSPA.
Ms Banerjee said due to underdevelopment, the people of the state advocated for separation from the mainland. ‘The politics of the Trinamool Congress in the state is a mission, not to become minister, ” she opined.
The insurgency problem in Manipur could be solved by political dialogue only, she said adding it could never be solved by arms. She assured that if her party come to the power in the state, the first priority of the government will be to initiate political dialogue with different outfits of Manipur.
Employment should be provided to the educated youths of Manipur, she said adding corruption should be rooted out from the soil of the state and the Tourism sector would be given a fillip.
Meanwhile, reacting to Ms Banerjee’s allegations, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said she was just like a baby. She came by air, went to one or two places and commented on important issues without knowing the ground realities, he added.(UNI)