IMPHAL – The demand for fresh assembly elections to restore democratic order and lasting peace in Manipur has been amplified by the Congress party. In a spirited state-level rally, the ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chor’ event held in Imphal today, senior leaders pressed the Centre to let the people of the violence-hit state choose their own government.
Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, the party’s MP and AICC in-charge for Manipur, addressed a large gathering, stating that the current situation, marked by months of President’s Rule, is untenable. “Our demand is simple. We want fresh elections in Manipur where people will elect their government and solve the issues,” Ulaka declared. He further pointed out the irony of the situation, noting that President’s Rule was imposed in February despite the BJP and its allies holding 55 out of 60 seats in the assembly. He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continued silence on the crisis, while highlighting that Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have repeatedly visited the state.
The party announced a major nationwide signature campaign, planned to run from September 15 to October 15, with an ambitious goal of collecting ten crore signatures to be presented to the President of India or the Election Commission. AICC secretary Christopher Tilak, speaking earlier at the same rally, alleged that the BJP government had committed the “maximum constitutional violations” in Manipur, claiming the state had become a “laboratory for constitutional violations” for the Centre.
The Congress leaders affirmed their resolve to continue raising the issue until a democratically elected government is reinstated, asserting that only a fresh mandate from the people can bring stability and a true solution to the state.
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