HM's visit was pretentious : BJP

Imphal, Dec 18 : Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's recent visit to the State was a pretentious one aimed at making an impression but devoid of any genuine concern for the various problems and issues confronting the State, alleged BJP Manipur Pradesh.

"Had the Home Minister's visit had any agenda to address the various problems besetting the State, he would have certainly met public leaders, media persons, political parties and civil society leaders of the State", asserted BJP Manipur Pradesh president Sh Shantikumar.

Speaking to media persons at their Nityaipat head-office this afternoon, Shantikumar said that the BJP Manipur Pradesh submitted an application to the State Home Department for a meeting with P Chidambaram during his two-day visit to the State.

Though the Home Department received the application, the department could not give any answer to a query whether any BJP delegate could call on the Union Home Minister or not.

After this, there was no official intimation from the department.

The Union Home Minister's visit was devoid of any public interest as was testified by his refusal to meet public leaders and political parties, Shantikumar alleged.

The Home Minister's visit was nothing but a grand show aimed at making certain impression, he added.

The limited interaction the Home Minister had with some selected students, his refusal to take any question from members of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union and dodging of media persons completely were all clear indications that the Home Minister's visit has very little to do with the people of Manipur.

Pointing out that there were cases of looting rice at Noney, murder of a woman and abduction of drivers during P Chidambaram's visit, the BJP president wondered with which yardstick the Home Minister remarked that law and order situation of Manipur was improving.

BJP Manipur Pradesh vice president Salam Ibohal remarked that the Home Minister's visit lacked transparency.

Chidambaram's assurance to maintain status quo of the territorial integrity of Manipur and his readiness to talk with those demanding Kuki homeland and his willingness to consider UNC's demands are all reflections of the Government of India's ambiguous posture with regard to the integrity of Manipur.

Even as both the Government of India and Government of Manipur have been harping on political dialogue to resolve the insurgency issue, it is unlikely that any UG group would come forward to hold dialogue with the Government considering the manner the Government of India is treating UNLF leader RK Meghen alias Sanayaima, Salam Ibohal asserted.