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Sorry, Modi ji 1st remove economic blockade from Manipur, then discuss development

In his first election rally in poll-bound Manipur, PM Narendra Modi almost remained silent on the issue of economic blockade in the state.

By Oneindia Staff Writer
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Imphal, Feb 25: Finally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Manipur to address an election rally on Saturday. The trouble-torn northeastern state is scheduled to go to polls in two phases on March 4 and 8.

The voters of Manipur strongly feel that the Prime Minister took a lot of time to visit their state and assess the ground situation. The voters wonder when Modi ji has been campaigning in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh on a regular basis, then why such a delay to visit Manipur.

Narendra Modi

However, the voters know, Manipur like the rest of northeast India is not important to most of the politicians from Delhi. Perhaps that is why hardly any leader of eminence, other than the local ones, has addressed poll rallies in the state.

Economic blockade turns election 'special'

Yes, this election is special for the people of Manipur. Not for any good reason, rather the people are going to vote when an economic blockade is underway in the state. In these troubled times, right from petrol to a packet of Britannia biscuit, everything has become inaccessible to Manipuris (as the people of the state are known). Even if they are available, customers have to pay exorbitant prices for fuels and daily essential items.

On Saturday, Manipur entered the 116th day of the economic blockade. Since November 1, the United Naga Council-- an umbrella organisation of Naga civil society organisations-- has imposed a blockade on NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) highways that serve as lifelines for the landlocked Manipur.

Many in Manipur are not in favour of the elections being conducted when the state is facing a crisis. However, voters have no other option, but to exercise their democratic rights during the election days. Similarly, many candidates have been vocal about the impediments they have been facing due to the economic blockade.

Politics over economic blockade

In his speech PM Modi attacked the ruling Congress over corruption and lack of development in the state. Unfortunately, the PM did not know that in this election people are not concerned about corruption, lack of development, militancy, anti-incumbency or even demonetisation.

The main issue plaguing the voters right now is economic blockade. Only once he had mentioned about the controversial word-economic blockade--in his entire election speech addressed in Imphal. The PM said if the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in the state then the party would never allow economic blockade in the state.

It is surprising to hear the PM of the country waiting for the assembly election results to end economic blockade in the state. The Centre has failed in its duty to end the crisis in state. Thus the ruling Congress has accused the BJP of instigating the UNC to continue with the blockade and not doing enough for the state.

The BJP has levelled counter allegations that Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh government has deliberately bi-furcated the districts to divide the state along ethnic lines and gain out of ethnic frenzy in the Valley arising out of the blockade.

"The BJP is covertly supporting the blockade and is hand in glove with the UNC. Whenever we try to take any action against the UNC, they create some problem. Even though a blockade is going on for three months and the supplies are drying up fast, the Centre is silent and is not taking necessary action to restore normalcy in the highways," senior Congress leader KH Joykishan told PTI.

As the politics over the economic blockade has been shamefully played out in the open-it is the people of Manipur who are suffering the most.

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