Manipur Elections 2017: Amit Shah promises to end economic blockade

IMPHAL: BJP national president Amit Shah has promised to end the crippling indefinite economic blockade in Manipur if BJP is voted to power in the coming assembly polls and said priority will be given to maintain law and order in the militancy-hit state.

"Our first task would be to end the indefinite economic blockade and all efforts will be carried out to make the state free from bandhs and blockades," Shah said at a poll rally here yesterday.

Emphasising on the need to restore law and order in the militancy-hit state, he said, "Law and order will be restored and priority will be given to solve the conflict situation of the state," he said.

Referring to the Naga Accord, Shah assured that it would not affect the territoral integrity of the state as had been assured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Banking on the development agenda, Shah promised to make Manipur a "model state" in five years even as he accused Congress government of not exploiting the tourism potential of the region.

"The state has huge potential in the tourism sector which has not been utilised by the Congress during the last 15 years of its rule. BJP will make Manipur a model state if it comes to power," Shah said.

He said that potable water will be available to the everyone in the state and conditions of roads will be improved.

Earlier in the day, Shah, accompanied by Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar and former MLA Y Erabot, held door-to-door campaign at Wangkhei assembly constituency, where he visited about 10 houses and asked for votes.

"Such an interaction was the first of its kind in Manipur. It shows BJP's seriousness to bring good governance in the state," Javadekar, who is the party's in-charge of Manipur said.

"The campaign shows BJP's concern about the welfare of the people of Manipur. The ideology of our party is to connect people with their representatives ... Families were thrilled when Shah came to interact with them personally," he added.