The Congress party on Wednesday alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party of indulging in pre-poll violence and intimidation and urged the CEO Manipur to exercise its constitutional authority to ensure free and fair election in the state. Those involved in violence must be put behind bars and must not be released untill the elections are over, it stated.
In this regard, a Congress party team led by its national leaders Jairam Ramesh and Bhakta Charan Das along with MLAs K Meghachandra and P Sharatchandra submitted a memorandum to the chief electoral officer on Wednesday.
The memorandum requested urgent direction from the chief electoral officer and relevant authorities to declare all assembly constituencies with repeated poll violence, especially Heirok, Mayang Imphal and Ukhrul assembly constituency as hypersensitive and extend judicial custody of all accused persons till completion of the election.
It requested to launch investigation and initiate action against miscreants indulging in criminal intimidation against flag hoisting candidates, especially in Heingang, Kangpokpi and Khundrakpam assembly constituencies and replace the state police with para-military forces and CRPF.
After the submission of the memorandum, AICC election observer Jairam Ramesh told the media that there have been 14 major incidents of poll violence in six assembly constituencies in recent days.
“The BJP is afraid of losing the election in Manipur. That is why they are resorting to violence,” he said.
The Congress is highly concerned that the state administration and police department is not doing its best to ensure free and peaceful elections, he said.
Informing that the chief electoral officer had given his assurance to look into the matter and ensure that the elections are held peacefully, he said, "We are hopeful that the commission will take up necessary actions.”
Those who are involved in violence must go behind bars and must not be released untill the elections are over, MLA K Meghachandra said.
