Govindas Konthoujam alleged that the 'Save Manipur' protest at Jantar Mantar was aimed at misleading youths, accused opposition parties of inciting unrest.
IMPHAL — Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam on Thursday alleged that protesters raising the "Save Manipur" slogan during the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi were attempting to provoke and mislead Manipuri youths.
The minister asserted that the state would be safeguarded by its own people, not through slogan-shouting.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters in Imphal, Konthoujam accused opposition parties of inciting violence during the protest.
"Those raising the 'Save Manipur' slogan are trying to mislead our youths. Manipur will be saved by us, not by those shouting slogans at Jantar Mantar. Yeh sab dikhawa hai," he said.
The Home minister alleged that the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar, along with the dharna led by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi outside the Prime Minister's residence, was aimed at disrupting the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
He further claimed that while students appeared to be at the forefront of the protest, political workers from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Communist parties were behind the demonstrations.
"There are hardly any CJP supporters at the protest venue. I only saw workers of opposition parties inciting violence," he alleged.
Referring to the paper leak issue, Konthoujam said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated that the welfare and future of the country's youth remain a priority. He said fast-track courts would be constituted to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in the paper leak case.
He urged the youth to place their trust in the Prime Minister.
The Home minister also alleged that certain groups were unhappy with the Centre's recent amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) rules. According to him, the ongoing protest in New Delhi was being funded from outside the country by forces that did not want India's rise.
"Where are those food packets and water bottles coming from at the protest venue?" he asked.
Konthoujam further accused opposition parties of lowering the country's image, adding that Parliament was the appropriate forum to debate issues and resolve differences.
Responding to a query on the damage to a Bailey bridge in Manipur's Kamjong district on Wednesday, the Home Minister said police were investigating the incident and trying to ascertain the exact cause.
He said two theories had emerged so far. One suggested that the bridge was blown up by militants operating from across the international border, while the other indicated that local miscreants may have damaged it to slow the movement of Assam Rifles personnel.
The press conference was also attended by government spokesperson Dr. S. Ranjan, Hills Area Committee Chairman D Gangmei, BJP MLAs H. Dingo Singh, P Brojen, Md. Achabuddin, and other state party functionaries.