Militants call for boycott of Congress in Manipur

The ruling Congress in Manipur is putting up a brave face in the wake of militants calling for boycott of the party in the January 28 assembly elections. “We’re not upset by the threat nor are we worried over our prospects in the polls,” Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaikhangam said.

“This is not the first time they have issued such a threat to us.

They’ve done this before in every election,” he said.

Gaikhangam’s assertion comes amid a series of bomb attacks on the offices of the party and its leaders since January 8. The militants warned Congress workers to stay away from the poll process or be prepared to face consequences. Gaikhangam also appealed to the rebels to stop all violence.

The CorCom (coordination committee of seven major rebel outfits) is boycotting the Congress alleging that O Ibobi Singh’s Secular Progressive Front government failed on all fronts. “Killings have become the order of the day under the Congress rule. In fact, people have been left to live under an atmosphere of constant fear and insecurity,” the CorCom alleged.

It urged all political parties not to align with the Congress. “If they do so, they shall have to pay a price for it,” the CorCom warned.
The threat has led the Congress to go back to its shell, largely in rural Manipur. The party’s campaigning, even its workers admit, has been low-key in the remote areas.

“Campaigning hasn’t been affected in the city because of tight security arrangements. However, we have a problem in remote areas where our workers aren’t venturing out because of fear,” Congress workers told DNA requesting anonymity.

The Opposition, however, does not see the threat to the Congress as an advantage. “Even in the last Lok Sabha elections, the militants had issued a similar threat to the Congress. But, eventually, they became friends,” NCP state unit president and former chief minister Radhabinod Koijam said.