Manipur`s territorial integrity will never be altered: Rahul Gandhi
By M Kaimuanthang
Churachandpur, Apr 3 : The AICC (I) general secretary Rahul Gandhi addressed a large gathering of the public at Tuibuong Peace Ground to campaign for the Outer Manipur Lok Sabha election candidate Thangso Baite in particular and the Inner Manipur candidate Dr. Th Meinya in general (both from Congress I). Earlier, the Congress leader landed at the helipad adjacent to the ground on a chopper from Aizawl at about 12.50 pm.
Rahul Gandhi addressed an enthusiastic crowd who were keen to see him physically from close range on his maiden visit today.
Soon after landing at the helipad, Rahul came in the Gandhi family`s well known gait as the crowds shouted with jubilation as it was the first time they really saw him.
Slogans like, "Rahul Gandhi zindabad" (Long-live Rahul Gandhi) and "Congress zindabad" (Long-live Congress" rent the air as the old and infirm, youngsters and even small kids covering every inch of the ground and trying to get a momentary glimpse of the young Congress leader`s face.
Gandhi waved at the crowds as soon as he alighted from the chopper as the cheering crowds greeted him with a more pronounced shouting of slogans.
Coming up on the dais after receiving the formal welcome and presentations, he was seated between chief minister O Ibobi Singh and MPCC(I) president Gaikhangam.
Gandhi began his speech by saying "Chibai" while waving his hands, which was responded with a big applause and cheers.
In his speech, he said he had traveled the length and breadth of the north east including Manipur and felt as a part of their family and was struck by the beauty of the region. He said that the tiny state of Manipur has been given importance in all areas of development as the other states.
The culture and the moral values of the Manipuris occupy a pride of place, he said adding that the Congress government had taken up many measures to uplift the poor and disenfranchised people.
During the last five years, the Congress had taken up certain measures for ensuring that every person gets a hundred days of employment along with measures for the benefit of the farmers, he said. The Manipur government and the Central government are from the same party and by working in close association many more landmark achievements could be made, he added.
He further said the Manipur University had been converted into a Central university, Kangla fort had been given to the people while adding that certain measures had also been taken up for the care and support of HIV infected people in the state.
Stating that the stand of the Congress government over the territory of Manipur had always been very clear, he said the territorial integrity of Manipur would never be changed or altered.
He went on to say that he had seen so many people from Manipur going to New Delhi for further studies and other activities and they were all successful in their chosen line of activities.
Most of the district level MLAs and ministers apart from the present government`s MLAs and ministers were present at today`s function thus making the programme a highly successful one.
Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by L Farido, AICC(I) Manipur in-charge alongwith Major General (Retd) Ved Prakash, an observer. Altogether an estimated 40,000 people turned up at the rally though in the initial stages the gathering was smaller due to the over stringent security measures taken up by the SPG and NSG security personnel.
The programme organizing chairman T Phungzathang was seen closely monitoring the whole affair and even requesting the security personnel to be a little bit lenient. This yielded results a little later when the programme actually commenced and there was a rush of people on the ground.
T Phungzathang, during a review meeting of the programme at the DCCI president`s residence thanked all district MLAs, the public and the media for their cooperation and support.
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