Imphal, July 24 (IANS) Manipur Home Minister Konthoujam Govindas Singh on Thursday alleged that the protest held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi under the “Save Manipur” banner was aimed at provoking the state’s youth and claimed that “foreign hands” were behind the agitation.
Addressing a press conference at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state headquarters in Imphal, Singh, also a senior BJP leader, said those raising the “Save Manipur” slogan were attempting to mislead Manipuri youths.
“Manipur will be saved by the people of Manipur, not by those raising slogans at Jantar Mantar. Yeh sab dikhawa hai (this is all for show),” he remarked.
The Home Minister alleged that the protest at Jantar Mantar and the demonstration led by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in front of the Prime Minister’s residence were intended to disrupt the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
He claimed that while students appeared to be at the forefront, political workers from the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Samajwadi Party (SP) and Left parties were actively involved behind the scenes.
“There were hardly any supporters of the organisers at the protest venue. I mostly saw workers of opposition parties who were inciting people and trying to provoke violence,” Singh said.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks earlier in the day, Singh said the Prime Minister had reiterated that nothing was more important than the welfare and future of the country’s youth and had announced the constitution of Fast Track Courts to ensure speedy punishment in paper leak cases.
He urged the youth to have faith in PM Modi and the Central Government’s commitment to protecting their interests.
Singh further alleged that certain groups were unhappy with recent changes to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) rules and claimed that the protest in New Delhi was being funded from outside the country by forces that “do not want India’s rise”.
“One has to ask where the food packets, water bottles and other logistical support at the protest venue are coming from,” he said.
He accused opposition parties of lowering the country’s image and maintained that issues concerning Manipur should be debated and resolved through Parliament.
–IANS
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