The ruling Congress in poll-bound Manipur has blamed the opposition parties for the increased attacks on its workers by the militants.
“Why are they targeting only the Congress and its workers? The opposition parties are hand in glove with the anti-social elements,” chief minister, O Ibobi Singh, told journalists here, after releasing the party’s poll manifesto on Thursday.
His accusation comes amid stepped up attacks on Congress workers by a conglomerate of seven major militant outfits. The rebels have warned Congress workers and its supporters to stay away from the poll process.
“This type of threat is not fair and justified. However, it won’t affect us,” he said. The Congress has set up candidates in all 60 seats. Ibobi claimed the party would win 40 to 45 seats.
Congress Working Committee member, Luizinho Faleiro, insisted the EC take cognizance of the threat issued by the militants.
“The political parties need a level playing field. But the militants have singled out the Congress party,” he said.
Ibobi played down the entry of Nagaland’s ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) into Manipur’s electoral politics.
“We don’t think their entry is a threat to our territorial integrity,” Ibobi
said.
The NPF has fielded 12 candidates in Naga-inhabited hill districts. It endorses the Naga rebels’ demand for the creation of a unified homeland for the Nagas by carving out the Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
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