General strike to receive Modi, BJP appeals to lift
Imphal, February 6: More than one lakh people are expected to gather on the day of BJP ‘s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s Manipur visit, scheduled on feb 8 at 9 am, to address a rally cum public meeting to be held at Langjing Achouba playground. Hectic preparation have been made at Imphal by the workers of BJP, Manipur state unit to receive the Party’s proposed PM candidate in coming Lok sabha election.
Meanwhile, amidst the boycott call to Modi’s visit spearheaded by a Manipuri Muslim (Meetei Pangal) based organisation alleging Modi to be communal, one UG group of the state have also called general strike on the day of Modi’s Manipur visit scheduled on feb 8. Reacting on this, BJP Manipur Kishan Morcha, in press communiqué signed by its president Th. Nabachandra, today appealed the group concerned to lift the General strike in public interest.
Sources from the BJP, Manipur said that their PM candidate Mr. Modi, on a chopper, will take aerial route from Tulihal airport to Langjing Achouba ground where the public meeting be held, to attend the meeting scheduled on February 8 to avoid the possible traffic congestion. Decision on Chopper ride for Modi was taken following BJP’s National vice president Aluhwalia inspected the traffic situation along the route from Tulihal airport to meeting spot on Tuesday last. Apart from this, all security measures have been taken up by the state Government to ensure safety of the visiting Prime ministerial candidate providing him ‘Z’ category security and smooth functioning of the public rally cum meeting.
“We expect thousands of people of the state who like “a change” will throng the public meeting to be addressed by the Party’s prime ministerial candidate. Hectic publicity is taking place to aware the masses about the meeting. At least 7000 people are expected from the CM Ibobi’s Assembly constituency ‘Thoubal’ while 5000 people are expected from Khangabok AC of MLA Landhoni Devi, wife of Manipur’s CM Ibobi to take part in the meeting”, revealed the source.
At least, seven aspiring candidates have so far applied for BJP tickets to contest the election to Inner and Outer Manipur parliamentary constituencies although the party is yet to officially announce candidates. BJP central leaders will give final verdict on the selection of candidates to contest election in Party’s ticket, added the source.
It may be mentioned that BJP Manipur is unable to send even a single MLA to the house of Manipur Legislative Assembly comprising 60 seats for the last two terms. The public support to the party decreased in the state mainly due to the Bangkok declaration between NSCN (IM) and GOI in 2001 extending cease fire in Manipur during the tenure of BJP led NDA Government. However, the party is expecting massive support in the coming election.
