IMPHAL, Jan 3: Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and former Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has strongly criticized the BJP-led government in Manipur under Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. Addressing the media, Ibobi Singh refuted Biren Singh’s repeated claims that the current challenges in the state stem from failures of the previous Congress government.

Speaking specifically on the Indo-Myanmar border fencing project, Ibobi Singh asserted that the project was initiated during his tenure under the Congress government. He noted that 4.5 km of fencing had been completed with the support of the Ministry of Home Affairs before the BJP took power. He accused the BJP of exaggerating its achievements, stating that while the current government claims to have completed 9 km of fencing, over 338 km of the porous border remains unfenced.

The former Chief Minister also highlighted that his administration had launched a joint survey with India’s Survey of India and Myanmar’s authorities to ensure proper border demarcation amid concerns over potential territorial loss due to the fencing project. He questioned the BJP government’s efforts, arguing that little progress has been made since then.

Ibobi Singh also criticized Chief Minister Biren Singh’s handling of the illegal immigration issue. Referring to a statement made by Biren Singh during the India Today conclave on October 7, 2018, where he claimed there were no illegal infiltrators in Manipur, Ibobi questioned how the BJP government could now attribute the problem to the Congress era.

On the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement signed with Kuki armed groups in 2008 during his tenure, Ibobi defended the move, emphasizing that it was aimed at restoring peace and normalcy in the state. He pointed out that the agreement contained provisions to protect Manipur’s territorial integrity and ensure the rights of its citizens. He also held the state government responsible for addressing any violations of the agreement’s ground rules.

Ibobi further criticized Chief Minister Biren Singh for repeatedly blaming the Congress government despite previously apologizing for certain remarks. He stated that the people of Manipur are well-informed and capable of discerning the truth behind the BJP government’s claims.

In his closing remarks, Ibobi Singh expressed confidence that the facts would speak for themselves and urged the public to evaluate the current government’s performance objectively.