Tura, Nov 8: The Congress has brought in their big guns into the battle for Gambegre and since touching down has gone all out to target arch rivals BJP which has also fielded a candidate in this byelection.
Lok Sabha member from Assam’s Nowgong constituency, Pradyut Bordoloi and Outer Manipur MP Alfred Kan-Ngam Arthur visited Gambegre to participate in a series of public meetings where they cautioned the voters to be wary of the BJP and its influence.
Arthur was most vociferous in his condemnation of the saffron party, blaming it for the destruction of his state Manipur where ethnic strife between the Kukis in the hills and the Meiteis in the plains has resulted in multiple killings and displaced thousands of people.
He said that it has been 18 months since violence erupted in his state that is governed by the BJP and there has been no let up to the unrest. “Since this party (BJP) came to power in 2014, it has been the most radical government.
For them everyone is just a tool to be used. We need to be cautious,” says Arthur as he addresses crowds in Gambegre villages where the Congress is conducting rallies. The Nowgong MP and four term Assam MLA and minister Pradyut Bordoloi spoke of the challenges faced by his people with the BJP and pointed to the rising cases of strife since Modi came to power.
The Manipur MP warned against giving any political space to the BJP saying a defeat of the saffron party in Gambegre will further strengthen democracy and inclusiveness of society. “We are tribals and the original owners of our land. This is our heritage. The North East may be small but our strength lies in our community. The BJP cannot bully us or arm twist us. We need to show them that India is a plural nation with an inclusive society,” said MP Arthur.
Prior to his debut into politics, Arthur was well known in the music world as the lead guitarist of Phoenix rock band and NH-39. Both bands have a huge fan following across the region, particularly Phoenix that has a cult following in Tura where they staged two concerts with spectacular success in the early 1990s.
