Congress focussing on development, stability : PM

Tamenglong, Manipur, Feb 18 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called upon the people to vote for Congress as the party in the past five years had given a stable government.

The Prime Minister was here to campaign for Congress candidates for the third and last phase of Assembly elections on February 23 for 12 seats spreading over three districts of Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Chandel districts and Jiribam sub-division.

In the first two phases voting for 48 seats of the 60-member Assembly was completed.

Amid tight security Dr Singh soon after landing at the Imphal airport was flown by a chopper to Tamenglong, some 150 Km from Imphal.

Dr Singh said the UPA government was committed to the welfare of the tribal people. Manipur could be developed into a mini Switzerland if people could provide peace and security. He appealed to the people to give the Congress party a chance to make the dream true.

Dr Singh's arrival also marked the 12-hour state-wide bandh called by outlawed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF).

All interstate bus services were cancelled and the roads wore a deserted look due to the bandh.

However, there was no report of any untoward incident due to bandh.

Security forces intensified patrolling and border posts were alerted to face any eventuality.

The Prime Minister addressing a mammoth rally at the Tamenglong public ground said he was here on behalf of party chief Sonia Gandhi to seek people's support for the Congress candidates.

Listing the achievements in the past five years under the Congress government, Dr Singh said Manipur University was made a Central University, the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences was upgraded and work would start for Loktak downstream and Tipaimukh projects to generate power. The Centre was also assisting the state under the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran yojana so that electrification across the state was done by 2009, he added.

He lauded Manipur's sportspersons for giving laurels to the country in the international competitions.

He also observed the Tamenglong district had poor transport connectivity and the party had the highest priority to build roads for all seasons. The national highways were improved and many bridges were either repaired or being built.

The Old Cachar road will link Nungba to Bishenpur and will lead to development of the area, he said. A major transport link which will benefit Manipur greatly was the Jiribam to Tupul railway line cutting through Tamenglong district, touching Nungba, Khongsang and Noney, he reminded.

Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Congress President Gaikhangam and other senior Congress leaders were also present in the meeting.

The Prime Minister flew to Imphal airport and left for Guwahati.

UNI