US President Donald Trump called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening to congratulate him on his recent state election victories, White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters.

Trump also congratulated German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her party&rsquo;s victory in a provincial election, the White House said.

&quot;The president spoke with German Chancellor Merkel and Indian Prime Minister Modi earlier today to congratulate them on their parties&#39; success in recent elections,&quot; Spicer said.

Modi&rsquo;s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the government in four Indian states: Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. Elections were held in five states.

It, however, lost Punjab to main rival Congress in the results announced on March 11.

This is the second time Trump has called Modi since he took office in January this year.&nbsp;

Previously, Modi and Trump talked by phone on January 24, when they had resolved to stand &quot;shoulder-to-shoulder&quot; in the global fight against terrorism and for defence and security.

The BJP bagged the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections winning 312 seats of the state assembly&#39;s 403 seats.&nbsp;

The BJP returned to power in the politically-crucial state of UP after a gap of 15 years.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

The White House said Trump also called German chancellor Angela Merkel

US President Donald Trump called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening to congratulate him on his recent state election victories, White House press secretary Sean Spicer told reporters. Trump also congratulated German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her party’s victory in a provincial election, the White House said. "The president spoke with German Chancellor Merkel and Indian Prime Minister Modi earlier today to congratulate them on their parties' success in recent elections," Spicer said. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the government in four Indian states: Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. Elections were held in five states. It, however, lost Punjab to main rival Congress in the results announced on March 11. This is the second time Trump has called Modi since he took office in January this year. Previously, Modi and Trump talked by phone on January 24, when they had resolved to stand "shoulder-to-shoulder" in the global fight against terrorism and for defence and security. The BJP bagged the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections winning 312 seats of the state assembly's 403 seats. The BJP returned to power in the politically-crucial state of UP after a gap of 15 years. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Trump calls Modi, congratulates him on UP & other wins

In the wake of the recent debate on the formation of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -&nbsp;dominated government in Goa and Manipur, the Congress party branded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP ministers as &#39;power-hungry&#39;&nbsp;politicians, going against the will of the locals.

With regards to Manohar Parrikar being appointed as the new chief minister of Goa, Congress leader Rizwan Arshad claimed that the appointment is against the will of residents in Goa.

Speaking to ANI, Arshad questioned Parrikar regarding why he did not contest the elections if he desired to be the chief minister, adding that the BJP is forcefully entering the political scenario in Goa.

&quot;Parrikar is not the chosen candidate for CM in the eyes of locals in Goa. The recent events are very unfortunate for the democracy,&quot; said Arshad.

With regards to Manipur, Arshad accused the Modi Government of misuse of power, further stating that independent MLAs were &#39;abducted by CISF&#39;.

Arshad also claimed that the recent attack on Kannada writer Yogesh Master has been fueled by right-wing organisations that are being supported by Prime Minister Modi.

&quot;These organisations are against liberalist ideology. The Congress Government in Karnataka will not let the miscreants walk free,&quot; he added.Commenting on India`s relations with Pakistan, Arshad stated that Prime Minister Modi&#39;s actions and words look &#39;out of sync&#39;, since there has been no clarity on the matter so far.

Meanwhile, the Congress moved the Supreme Court against Goa Governor&#39;s decision to invite Parrikar to form government in the state, despite the BJP emerging as the second largest party.

The Congress claimed that the Governor should have invited them to form government, as they are the single largest party with 17 seats.

The petition for urgent hearing was mentioned before Chief Justice of India JS&nbsp;Khehar, and is scheduled to take place later today.

(ANI)&nbsp;

Congress branded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP ministers as 'power-hungry'?politicians, going against the will of the locals

In the wake of the recent debate on the formation of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - dominated government in Goa and Manipur, the Congress party branded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP ministers as 'power-hungry' politicians, going against the will of the locals. With regards to Manohar Parrikar being appointed as the new chief minister of Goa, Congress leader Rizwan Arshad claimed that the appointment is against the will of residents in Goa. Speaking to ANI, Arshad questioned Parrikar regarding why he did not contest the elections if he desired to be the chief minister, adding that the BJP is forcefully entering the political scenario in Goa. "Parrikar is not the chosen candidate for CM in the eyes of locals in Goa. The recent events are very unfortunate for the democracy," said Arshad. With regards to Manipur, Arshad accused the Modi Government of misuse of power, further stating that independent MLAs were 'abducted by CISF'. Arshad also claimed that the recent attack on Kannada writer Yogesh Master has been fueled by right-wing organisations that are being supported by Prime Minister Modi. "These organisations are against liberalist ideology. The Congress Government in Karnataka will not let the miscreants walk free," he added.Commenting on India`s relations with Pakistan, Arshad stated that Prime Minister Modi's actions and words look 'out of sync', since there has been no clarity on the matter so far. Meanwhile, the Congress moved the Supreme Court against Goa Governor's decision to invite Parrikar to form government in the state, despite the BJP emerging as the second largest party. The Congress claimed that the Governor should have invited them to form government, as they are the single largest party with 17 seats. The petition for urgent hearing was mentioned before Chief Justice of India JS Khehar, and is scheduled to take place later today. (ANI)

India: Congress slams BJP for 'backdoor entry' in Goa, Manipur

The BJP in Manipur received a shot in the arm after the state governor invited&nbsp;Nongthombam Biren Singh to take oath as the state&#39;s next chief minister on Wednesday afternoon (March 15).

Governor Najma Heptullah said the decision was made as she was satisfied with BJP&#39;s claim of having more than 31 lawmakers -- the majority number -- on their side.

BJP steals a march over Congress in Manipur too

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s nationalist outfit has seemingly outmanoeuvred the party with highest number of seats in the recently-concluded Manipur elections.

The incumbent head of Manipur, in northeast India, Okram Ibobi Singh had to step down on Monday night (March 13) despite the Congress party winning 28 seats against BJP&#39;s 21.

But Modi&#39;s BJP has managed to forge partnerships with the regional parties to claim they have the majority, much like they have done in Goa.

On Monday, the BJP said they had received support from National People&#39;s Party (four seats), Naga People&#39;s Front (four), Lok Janshakti Party (one) and damagingly, one lawmaker who has defected from the Congress.

The BJP has chosen N Biren Singh to head the next government in Manipur.

Ibobi Singh reacted by saying he had the backing of National People&#39;s Party, but that was dismissed by the NPP later, forcing the incumbent chief minister to step down.

Manipur governor Najma Heptulla asked Ibobi Singh to resign, echoing events in Goa where the BJP has stolen a march over the Congress. There too, Congress had won the most number of seats (17) in the recent elections but Modi&#39;s party managed to cobble up the required number to stake their claim on government formation.

There are also unconfirmed rumours that a further 10 Congress lawmakers are planning to defect to the BJP in the state of Manipur.&nbsp;

Media reports suggest that Ibobi Singh has kept his flock of 27 lawmakers at one place to hinder them from switching loyalties.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

Narendra Modi's BJP had claimed their stake on government formation, forcing Congress' Ibobi Singh to step down as chief minister of Manipur

The BJP in Manipur received a shot in the arm after the state governor invited Nongthombam Biren Singh to take oath as the state's next chief minister on Wednesday afternoon (March 15). Governor Najma Heptullah said the decision was made as she was satisfied with BJP's claim of having more than 31 lawmakers -- the majority number -- on their side. BJP steals a march over Congress in Manipur too Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's nationalist outfit has seemingly outmanoeuvred the party with highest number of seats in the recently-concluded Manipur elections. The incumbent head of Manipur, in northeast India, Okram Ibobi Singh had to step down on Monday night (March 13) despite the Congress party winning 28 seats against BJP's 21. But Modi's BJP has managed to forge partnerships with the regional parties to claim they have the majority, much like they have done in Goa. On Monday, the BJP said they had received support from National People's Party (four seats), Naga People's Front (four), Lok Janshakti Party (one) and damagingly, one lawmaker who has defected from the Congress. The BJP has chosen N Biren Singh to head the next government in Manipur. Ibobi Singh reacted by saying he had the backing of National People's Party, but that was dismissed by the NPP later, forcing the incumbent chief minister to step down. Manipur governor Najma Heptulla asked Ibobi Singh to resign, echoing events in Goa where the BJP has stolen a march over the Congress. There too, Congress had won the most number of seats (17) in the recent elections but Modi's party managed to cobble up the required number to stake their claim on government formation. There are also unconfirmed rumours that a further 10 Congress lawmakers are planning to defect to the BJP in the state of Manipur. Media reports suggest that Ibobi Singh has kept his flock of 27 lawmakers at one place to hinder them from switching loyalties. (WION with inputs from agencies)

BJP invited to form government in Manipur

The first phase poll in Manipur, held on March 4, 2017, sealed the fate of candidates in 38 Assembly segments. And now all eyes are on March 8&nbsp;i.e today when the remaining 22 Assembly constituencies are witnessing the exercise in the second and final phase. By March 11, the voters will know the newly elected 60 members of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly. Whether Congress returns to power for the fourth consecutive term or BJP forms another government after Assam and Arunachal in Northeast India&nbsp;will be known on or before March 18.

Major Issues

Perhaps Manipur is the only state in northeast India, where different communities are not united on any single issue--before, during and after elections. Vital issues such as corruption, good governance, infrastructure, human rights&nbsp;violation, employment, water supply&nbsp;and communications, etc. are generally pushed to the backburner and is overshadowed by emotive issues. As expected, the issues of framework agreement, territorial integrity, economic blockade and creation of new districts have emerged as the central issues of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly election. However, even on these emotive issues, the views and strategies of parties and communities&nbsp;differ.

Manipur&rsquo;s territorial integrity is sacrosanct to the Meiteis. To them, nothing is more important than protecting the territorial integrity of the state. The majority Meiteis in the valley, who almost deserted&nbsp;Okram&nbsp;Ibobi Singh and the Congress party at one point of time, are now changing their minds because of the non-disclosure of contents of the Framework Agreement by the BJP and the economic blockade imposed by the Nagas&nbsp;since the midnight of October 31, 2015. The economic blockade affects people from the valley more than the people in the hills.

For the Nagas, their ancestral land issue is non-negotiable and thus opposes the newly created districts. The United Nagaland Council (UNC) and NSCN (IM), which can influence about 10 Assembly segments in the hills are openly supporting the Nagaland-based Naga People&rsquo;s Front (NPF). The last 2012 election saw&nbsp;four NPF MLAs getting elected.

Two vital issues for the Kukis are the newly created districts and the ongoing political dialogue with the Centre on Kuki political issues. While the United People&#39;s Front (UPF) is closer to BJP&nbsp;so as to continue the political dialogue, Kuki National Organisation (KNO) is supportive of Congress for creating new districts in Kuki areas. Both KNO and UPF control about 10 Assembly segments in the hills.

The two main contenders, Congress and BJP, also have different approaches&nbsp;although both parties have pledged to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur. While BJP assures that the Framework Agreement will not affect Manipur&rsquo;s integrity, the Congress Party questions as to why BJP should continue to keep it a closely guarded secret&nbsp;if it does not contain anything inimical to the interests of Manipur. While BJP focuses on the 15 years of rampant corruption and bad governance under&nbsp;Congress rule, the Congress&nbsp;harps on the dangers that the BJP poses to the territorial integrity and existence of Manipur. Many civil society groups&nbsp;in Manipur have been campaigning to elicit the contents and other details of the agreement.&nbsp;They are not satisfied with verbal assurance from&nbsp;the Prime Minister.

The violent protests against the introduction of three Bills in the state Assembly&nbsp;- resulting in the death of 9 persons&nbsp;- is still fresh in the minds of the voters of Churachandpur. Public anger against the Congress is so deep that some Congress MLAs were compelled to join the BJP just few months before the election. Had it not been for the creation of new districts, fate of the Congress candidates in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts would have been sealed much before the elections.

Comparison with previous elections

Unlike the previous elections, particularly the 2012 Assembly elections, when the opposition parties were in disarray&nbsp;and BJP did not win even a single seat, this time around, the fight is mainly between the Congress and BJP. Today, BJP&rsquo;s strength has increased in Manipur. From a zero entity it has become a serious contender. However, lack of good leadership, mismanagement in the distribution of tickets and the &ldquo;supposedly close and secret relations and understanding with the NPF&rdquo;&nbsp;are likely to have negative consequences for the party in the valley and some hill Assembly segments.

The 2017 election will go down in the electoral history of Manipur as the most polarised election as the three major communities - Kukis, Meiteis and Nagas -&nbsp;do not see eye to eye on most issues confronting the state. Though it is difficult to predict the outcome of the elections, it is expected to be along ethnic lines.

What is conspicuous by its absence, is the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 in BJP&rsquo;s manifesto, although the Congress mentions it in its manifesto. Surprisingly, AFSPA seems to be of no concern to the voters. Another significant departure from the past is that for the first time in Manipur, 16 polling booths (10 in Imphal West and six in Bishnupur) were exclusively manned by women polling personnel.

Expectations

Will there be a positive change after a new government comes in?&nbsp;

Possibly not.&nbsp;One thing is for certain, that nothing much is likely to change. Immediate concern and expectation of the common people, both from the hills and valley from the new government&nbsp;would be putting an end to the ongoing economic blockade. The common fear of&nbsp;post-poll violence, like it has happened before,&nbsp;may have a dampening effect. As usual, voters will perhaps have to console themselves by swallowing the hard truth&nbsp;that political parties seldom fulfill their electoral promises&nbsp;.&nbsp;

Election is often called the biggest festival of democracy. One wonders if it actually is so. 
&nbsp;

AFSPA is no more a concern as major communities don't see eye to eye on common issues confronting the state

The first phase poll in Manipur, held on March 4, 2017, sealed the fate of candidates in 38 Assembly segments. And now all eyes are on March 8 i.e today when the remaining 22 Assembly constituencies are witnessing the exercise in the second and final phase. By March 11, the voters will know the newly elected 60 members of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly. Whether Congress returns to power for the fourth consecutive term or BJP forms another government after Assam and Arunachal in Northeast India will be known on or before March 18. Major Issues Perhaps Manipur is the only state in northeast India, where different communities are not united on any single issue--before, during and after elections. Vital issues such as corruption, good governance, infrastructure, human rights violation, employment, water supply and communications, etc. are generally pushed to the backburner and is overshadowed by emotive issues. As expected, the issues of framework agreement, territorial integrity, economic blockade and creation of new districts have emerged as the central issues of the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly election. However, even on these emotive issues, the views and strategies of parties and communities differ. Manipur’s territorial integrity is sacrosanct to the Meiteis. To them, nothing is more important than protecting the territorial integrity of the state. The majority Meiteis in the valley, who almost deserted Okram Ibobi Singh and the Congress party at one point of time, are now changing their minds because of the non-disclosure of contents of the Framework Agreement by the BJP and the economic blockade imposed by the Nagas since the midnight of October 31, 2015. The economic blockade affects people from the valley more than the people in the hills. For the Nagas, their ancestral land issue is non-negotiable and thus opposes the newly created districts. The United Nagaland Council (UNC) and NSCN (IM), which can influence about 10 Assembly segments in the hills are openly supporting the Nagaland-based Naga People’s Front (NPF). The last 2012 election saw four NPF MLAs getting elected. Two vital issues for the Kukis are the newly created districts and the ongoing political dialogue with the Centre on Kuki political issues. While the United People's Front (UPF) is closer to BJP so as to continue the political dialogue, Kuki National Organisation (KNO) is supportive of Congress for creating new districts in Kuki areas. Both KNO and UPF control about 10 Assembly segments in the hills. The two main contenders, Congress and BJP, also have different approaches although both parties have pledged to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur. While BJP assures that the Framework Agreement will not affect Manipur’s integrity, the Congress Party questions as to why BJP should continue to keep it a closely guarded secret if it does not contain anything inimical to the interests of Manipur. While BJP focuses on the 15 years of rampant corruption and bad governance under Congress rule, the Congress harps on the dangers that the BJP poses to the territorial integrity and existence of Manipur. Many civil society groups in Manipur have been campaigning to elicit the contents and other details of the agreement. They are not satisfied with verbal assurance from the Prime Minister. The violent protests against the introduction of three Bills in the state Assembly - resulting in the death of 9 persons - is still fresh in the minds of the voters of Churachandpur. Public anger against the Congress is so deep that some Congress MLAs were compelled to join the BJP just few months before the election. Had it not been for the creation of new districts, fate of the Congress candidates in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts would have been sealed much before the elections. Comparison with previous elections Unlike the previous elections, particularly the 2012 Assembly elections, when the opposition parties were in disarray and BJP did not win even a single seat, this time around, the fight is mainly between the Congress and BJP. Today, BJP’s strength has increased in Manipur. From a zero entity it has become a serious contender. However, lack of good leadership, mismanagement in the distribution of tickets and the “supposedly close and secret relations and understanding with the NPF” are likely to have negative consequences for the party in the valley and some hill Assembly segments. The 2017 election will go down in the electoral history of Manipur as the most polarised election as the three major communities - Kukis, Meiteis and Nagas - do not see eye to eye on most issues confronting the state. Though it is difficult to predict the outcome of the elections, it is expected to be along ethnic lines. What is conspicuous by its absence, is the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 in BJP’s manifesto, although the Congress mentions it in its manifesto. Surprisingly, AFSPA seems to be of no concern to the voters. Another significant departure from the past is that for the first time in Manipur, 16 polling booths (10 in Imphal West and six in Bishnupur) were exclusively manned by women polling personnel. Expectations Will there be a positive change after a new government comes in? Possibly not. One thing is for certain, that nothing much is likely to change. Immediate concern and expectation of the common people, both from the hills and valley from the new government would be putting an end to the ongoing economic blockade. The common fear of post-poll violence, like it has happened before, may have a dampening effect. As usual, voters will perhaps have to console themselves by swallowing the hard truth that political parties seldom fulfill their electoral promises . Election is often called the biggest festival of democracy. One wonders if it actually is so.

2017 will witness the most polarised election in Manipur

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is not the medicine for militancy and it is there to &quot;extract resources&quot; from Manipur, Irom Sharmila&#39;s party PRJA has said.

To drive home the point, the Peoples&#39; Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) said that there were only four insurgent groups when the draconian AFSPA was introduced in Manipur in the 1980s and the number has gone up to 32 since.

The PRJA, which was formed by Sharmila after she ended her 16-year-long hunger strike against the AFSPA in August last year, is making its electoral debut in this Assembly polls, fielding candidates in three of the state&#39;s 60 seats.

&quot;The AFSPA is not about militancy and counter-insurgency. It is something beyond that. To deal with militancy and counter-insurgency, you may need laws and programmes but the AFSPA is not one of them. In the 1980s when the AFSPA was introduced in Manipur, there were only four insurgent groups and in 2016 there were more than 32 groups reported... The AFSPA is not the medicine for militancy. It has clearly multiplied the disease. The AFSPA is there to extract resources from Manipur,&quot; PRJA convener Erendro Leichombam said in an email interview to PTI.

He said that his party would work towards the removal of the Act, which gives sweeping powers and immunity to the army in conflict-ridden areas, from Manipur first and &quot;then move Parliament to repeal it from all places across India&quot;.

Asked whether the electoral fight this time was &quot;symbolic&quot;, the 33-year-old leader said, &quot;Absolutely not. I think one PRJA MLA is worth 60 other MLAs. We are going to create so much ruckus inside the Assembly and expose the lies that people are going to ask for more.&quot;

Asked whether the party would support either the Congress or&nbsp;the BJP in case of a hung verdict, Leichombam just said, &quot;We are not going to ally with the Congress.&quot;

On the possibility of a future alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in view of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal&#39;s appreciation of Sharmila, he said, &quot;We are a very new party, we are barely five months old. We want to make sure we establish our own identity and foundation and once we are assured of the party strength, only after that we will be looking at an alliance.&quot;

Besides removal of the AFSPA, the nascent party is fighting the election on the planks of ending corruption, reducing unemployment, implementing Lokayukta, and ensuring a harmonious and inclusive Manipur.

Manipur is going to polls in two phases on March 4 and March 8 and the counting will be held on March 11. The Okram Ibobi Singh-led Congress dispensation has been in power in Manipur since 2002.

Asked about the party&#39;s take on the economic blockade by the United Naga Council and its impact to the economy of the state, he said, &quot;Every day, people are struggling because of the economic blockade. The Congress and the BJP are in power in the state and at the Centre, respectively. It is their job to resolve this at the earliest but they are just taking political mileage out of this.&quot;

(PTI)

PRJA is making its electoral debut in Manipur assembly elections, fielding candidates in three of the state's 60 seats

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is not the medicine for militancy and it is there to "extract resources" from Manipur, Irom Sharmila's party PRJA has said. To drive home the point, the Peoples' Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) said that there were only four insurgent groups when the draconian AFSPA was introduced in Manipur in the 1980s and the number has gone up to 32 since. The PRJA, which was formed by Sharmila after she ended her 16-year-long hunger strike against the AFSPA in August last year, is making its electoral debut in this Assembly polls, fielding candidates in three of the state's 60 seats. "The AFSPA is not about militancy and counter-insurgency. It is something beyond that. To deal with militancy and counter-insurgency, you may need laws and programmes but the AFSPA is not one of them. In the 1980s when the AFSPA was introduced in Manipur, there were only four insurgent groups and in 2016 there were more than 32 groups reported... The AFSPA is not the medicine for militancy. It has clearly multiplied the disease. The AFSPA is there to extract resources from Manipur," PRJA convener Erendro Leichombam said in an email interview to PTI. He said that his party would work towards the removal of the Act, which gives sweeping powers and immunity to the army in conflict-ridden areas, from Manipur first and "then move Parliament to repeal it from all places across India". Asked whether the electoral fight this time was "symbolic", the 33-year-old leader said, "Absolutely not. I think one PRJA MLA is worth 60 other MLAs. We are going to create so much ruckus inside the Assembly and expose the lies that people are going to ask for more." Asked whether the party would support either the Congress or the BJP in case of a hung verdict, Leichombam just said, "We are not going to ally with the Congress." On the possibility of a future alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in view of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's appreciation of Sharmila, he said, "We are a very new party, we are barely five months old. We want to make sure we establish our own identity and foundation and once we are assured of the party strength, only after that we will be looking at an alliance." Besides removal of the AFSPA, the nascent party is fighting the election on the planks of ending corruption, reducing unemployment, implementing Lokayukta, and ensuring a harmonious and inclusive Manipur. Manipur is going to polls in two phases on March 4 and March 8 and the counting will be held on March 11. The Okram Ibobi Singh-led Congress dispensation has been in power in Manipur since 2002. Asked about the party's take on the economic blockade by the United Naga Council and its impact to the economy of the state, he said, "Every day, people are struggling because of the economic blockade. The Congress and the BJP are in power in the state and at the Centre, respectively. It is their job to resolve this at the earliest but they are just taking political mileage out of this." (PTI)

'AFSPA is not a medicine for militancy': Irom Sharmila's PRJA party

India&#39;s Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress for corruption and lack of development in Manipur and said the party was spreading misinforming people that the central government was compromising with the territorial sovereignity of the state.

The prime minister also said that if the BJP comes to power in the state, he would ensure economic blockades were put to an end in the state.&nbsp;

&quot;There will never be an economic blockade when BJP comes to power in Manipur, I assure you this,&quot; PM Modi said at an election rally in Manipur capital Imphal.

Accusing the Congress of &quot;ruining&quot; Manipur in the last 15 years, Modi assured that the BJP would do in 15 months what the Congress could not do all this while. He also said he was the only prime minister after Morarji Desai who attended the North East Council (NEC) meetings for the overall development of the North Eastern states.

&quot;It has been 15 years, Manipur has been ruined. Who is responsible? Congress did no development, do they deserve to be here now?. What they (Congress) did not do in last 15 years, I assure we will do it in 15 months,&quot; PM Modi said.

&quot;When Atalji (former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee) formed government, he made policies for overall development of Northeast. But Congress did not carry the good work forward.

&quot;Since last 40 years, no PM of the country came to North-East for NEC Meeting. After Morarji Desai I am the only one who visited,&quot; he added.

Modi also alleged that the Congress party was dividing people by saying that the Centre was compromising the territorial integrity of Manipur by signing an accord with the Naga insurgent group -- the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM). &nbsp;

&quot;People have been talking about the accord with the Nagas. I want to ask the CM, were you sleeping for 1.5 years? You never wrote a letter to Centre seeking details. I alone revealed everything about the accord to the Congress. They are dividing the people of Manipur by spreading lies,&quot; Prime Minister Modi said.

&quot;Naga accord was signed one and half years ago. Was Congress asleep that time? And, now they are spreading lies,&quot; he said.

He also accused the state government of pitting communities against one another for their personal gain.

&quot;In order to win elections and they are making people fight against each other. They pitted one brother against another. They don&#39;t care about the people of Manipur, all they care about is grabbing power. They don&#39;t deserve to be in the government,&quot; Prime Minister Modi said.&nbsp;

Targeting chief minister Ibobi Singh, the PM said, &quot;&quot;They (Congress) want votes for their 10 per cent commission... Have you ever heard about 10 per cent chief minister? Anywhere? Manipur now needs a zero per cent chief minister... We want vote for 100 per cent development...&quot;

Manipur goes to polls in two phases on March 4 and March 8. The results will be declared on March 11 along with that of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa.

The BJP is hoping to gain some ground in the state where the Congress is the largest party followed by the All India Trinamool Congress and Manipur State Congress Party.&nbsp;

Human rights activist Irom Sharmila, who has floated a new party after breaking her 16-year-long fast demanding repeal of the controversial AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act), is also in the fray. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

At an election rally in Imphal, Modi said the Congress was spreading lies about the Naga accord signed with the Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress for corruption and lack of development in Manipur and said the party was spreading misinforming people that the central government was compromising with the territorial sovereignity of the state. The prime minister also said that if the BJP comes to power in the state, he would ensure economic blockades were put to an end in the state. "There will never be an economic blockade when BJP comes to power in Manipur, I assure you this," PM Modi said at an election rally in Manipur capital Imphal. Accusing the Congress of "ruining" Manipur in the last 15 years, Modi assured that the BJP would do in 15 months what the Congress could not do all this while. He also said he was the only prime minister after Morarji Desai who attended the North East Council (NEC) meetings for the overall development of the North Eastern states. "It has been 15 years, Manipur has been ruined. Who is responsible? Congress did no development, do they deserve to be here now?. What they (Congress) did not do in last 15 years, I assure we will do it in 15 months," PM Modi said. "When Atalji (former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee) formed government, he made policies for overall development of Northeast. But Congress did not carry the good work forward. "Since last 40 years, no PM of the country came to North-East for NEC Meeting. After Morarji Desai I am the only one who visited," he added. Modi also alleged that the Congress party was dividing people by saying that the Centre was compromising the territorial integrity of Manipur by signing an accord with the Naga insurgent group -- the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) (NSCN-IM). "People have been talking about the accord with the Nagas. I want to ask the CM, were you sleeping for 1.5 years? You never wrote a letter to Centre seeking details. I alone revealed everything about the accord to the Congress. They are dividing the people of Manipur by spreading lies," Prime Minister Modi said. "Naga accord was signed one and half years ago. Was Congress asleep that time? And, now they are spreading lies," he said. He also accused the state government of pitting communities against one another for their personal gain. "In order to win elections and they are making people fight against each other. They pitted one brother against another. They don't care about the people of Manipur, all they care about is grabbing power. They don't deserve to be in the government," Prime Minister Modi said. Targeting chief minister Ibobi Singh, the PM said, ""They (Congress) want votes for their 10 per cent commission... Have you ever heard about 10 per cent chief minister? Anywhere? Manipur now needs a zero per cent chief minister... We want vote for 100 per cent development..." Manipur goes to polls in two phases on March 4 and March 8. The results will be declared on March 11 along with that of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Goa. The BJP is hoping to gain some ground in the state where the Congress is the largest party followed by the All India Trinamool Congress and Manipur State Congress Party. Human rights activist Irom Sharmila, who has floated a new party after breaking her 16-year-long fast demanding repeal of the controversial AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act), is also in the fray. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Government not compromising Manipur's territorial integrity, Congress lying: PM Modi

It doesn&rsquo;t take long to understand that the elections in India&#39;s northeast Manipur state is being fought solely on the issue of territorial integrity of the state. Instead of development being the salient&nbsp;talking point, politics in Manipur is revolving around the Naga Accord which the Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed in 2015.

Though basic issues like corruption, lack of development, extra judicial killings, ecological issues and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)&nbsp;remain alive but it is the more than three-month-long blockade organised by the Naga community in Manipur that continues to remain the biggest issue.

Senior BJP leaders are quick to blame Manipur chief minister Ibobi Singh of 15 years for carving out seven new districts right before the state elections. They point out this is the reason for the intense violence that has gripped the state.&nbsp;

&ldquo;The message went out that the decision was political in nature. He had earlier claimed that he would carve the districts till consensus evolves and then he took the decision suo motto,&rdquo; said Kiren Rejiju minister of state for home affairs.

Though Congress defended the decision as a routine administrative matter but the message which went out was that the state government undermined the concept of Nagalim (Greater Nagaland), leading to unrest in Naga-dominated Manipuri areas.&nbsp;

The result of the decision was a massive blockade which threw life out of gear in Manipur. While Manipur chief minister blamed the BJP-led federal government for inadequate support, the BJP blamed the Congress for fishing in troubled waters.

&ldquo;The decision to carve out the district was an administrative matter but the Centre must show us the Naga draft. It is the silence on this issue which has created so much anxiety in the state,&rdquo; said senior Congress leader Imran ul Kidwai in Imphal.&nbsp;

The accord which was signed in 2015 has not been made public owing to security issues. It is this opaqueness that has vexed the average Manipuri though BJP claims that not an iota of land would be ceded and territorial compromise is a political jumla.

&ldquo;There is no mention of Manipur in the accord. I can vouch for it. There is no compromise on territory,&rdquo; said BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who is in-charge of India&#39;s northeast.

The gravity of the situation has even coerced&nbsp;Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to publically assert that territorial integrity of Manipur would not be tampered with.

The campaign acoustics of the two national parties have varied as well.

Congress&#39; Ibobi Singh is overseeing a low-profile campaign whereas BJP has gone in the opposite direction.

BJP&rsquo;s campaign is high-pitched,&nbsp;with senior leaders campaigning in Imphal. BJP also doesn&rsquo;t have a chief ministerial face. It feels content in projecting Modi as the face of its campaign.

It has also taken up the sensitive issue of extrajudicial killings in the restive state.&nbsp;The party has promised that people responsible would be brought to book.

&ldquo;We have made blockade an issue because it is being used politically by the Congress,&rdquo; said Jitendra Singh, minister of state in Prime Minister&rsquo;s office. &nbsp;

BJP wants to build this narrative of blockades and lack of development without getting into the Naga issue directly. Congress differs. Imran Kidwai says that Manipur has witness an&nbsp;all-round development in the state under their tenure.

Though what is surprising is that Iron Sharmila who fought several federal governments&nbsp;on AFSPA and became a prominent public figure from Manipur has not been able to leverage her reputation in the political domain. Her cash-strapped campaign has remained subdued even though the draconian army law continues to remain in place in several parts of the state.

AFSPA is special powers granted by the Indian parliament to the armed forces to maintain or restore normalcy in &quot;troubled areas&quot;.

Certain issues which are ecological in nature like health of Loktak lake -- India&rsquo;s biggest fresh water lake -- has come into prominence like a metaphor. &ldquo;More money we sent to clean the river, the dirtier it became,&rdquo; said federal government&#39;s&nbsp;Jitendra Singh.&nbsp;

But why so much of Manipur in public discourse?

It is because of the importance the RSS, or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh -- the parent organisation of BJP -- puts on the frontier regions of the country.

It is this reason why both Kashmir and the Northeast are&nbsp;being personally handled by Ram Madhav, who was inducted into BJP from RSS before Lok Sabha elections in 2014.

Poll victories in Kashmir and Assam gave legitimacy to BJP&#39;s status of being a pan-India party.

Just like the Karnataka victory in 2008 fanned BJP&#39;s presence&nbsp;in South India, a victory in Manipur would consolidate its footprint in the Northeast.

&ldquo;Northeast is a priority for us and we will take this fight to every state,&rdquo; said Assam&#39;s finance minister Jimanta Biswa Sarma, who played the most crucial role in bringing BJP into power in Assam.&nbsp;

Manipur will go to polls on March 4 and March 8.

(WION)

Besides, the two national parties -- BJP and Congress -- have been tussling over the opaque Naga Accord signed in 2015

It doesn’t take long to understand that the elections in India's northeast Manipur state is being fought solely on the issue of territorial integrity of the state. Instead of development being the salient talking point, politics in Manipur is revolving around the Naga Accord which the Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed in 2015. Though basic issues like corruption, lack of development, extra judicial killings, ecological issues and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) remain alive but it is the more than three-month-long blockade organised by the Naga community in Manipur that continues to remain the biggest issue. Senior BJP leaders are quick to blame Manipur chief minister Ibobi Singh of 15 years for carving out seven new districts right before the state elections. They point out this is the reason for the intense violence that has gripped the state. “The message went out that the decision was political in nature. He had earlier claimed that he would carve the districts till consensus evolves and then he took the decision suo motto,” said Kiren Rejiju minister of state for home affairs. Though Congress defended the decision as a routine administrative matter but the message which went out was that the state government undermined the concept of Nagalim (Greater Nagaland), leading to unrest in Naga-dominated Manipuri areas. The result of the decision was a massive blockade which threw life out of gear in Manipur. While Manipur chief minister blamed the BJP-led federal government for inadequate support, the BJP blamed the Congress for fishing in troubled waters. “The decision to carve out the district was an administrative matter but the Centre must show us the Naga draft. It is the silence on this issue which has created so much anxiety in the state,” said senior Congress leader Imran ul Kidwai in Imphal. The accord which was signed in 2015 has not been made public owing to security issues. It is this opaqueness that has vexed the average Manipuri though BJP claims that not an iota of land would be ceded and territorial compromise is a political jumla. “There is no mention of Manipur in the accord. I can vouch for it. There is no compromise on territory,” said BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who is in-charge of India's northeast. The gravity of the situation has even coerced Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to publically assert that territorial integrity of Manipur would not be tampered with. The campaign acoustics of the two national parties have varied as well. Congress' Ibobi Singh is overseeing a low-profile campaign whereas BJP has gone in the opposite direction. BJP’s campaign is high-pitched, with senior leaders campaigning in Imphal. BJP also doesn’t have a chief ministerial face. It feels content in projecting Modi as the face of its campaign. It has also taken up the sensitive issue of extrajudicial killings in the restive state. The party has promised that people responsible would be brought to book. “We have made blockade an issue because it is being used politically by the Congress,” said Jitendra Singh, minister of state in Prime Minister’s office. BJP wants to build this narrative of blockades and lack of development without getting into the Naga issue directly. Congress differs. Imran Kidwai says that Manipur has witness an all-round development in the state under their tenure. Though what is surprising is that Iron Sharmila who fought several federal governments on AFSPA and became a prominent public figure from Manipur has not been able to leverage her reputation in the political domain. Her cash-strapped campaign has remained subdued even though the draconian army law continues to remain in place in several parts of the state. AFSPA is special powers granted by the Indian parliament to the armed forces to maintain or restore normalcy in "troubled areas". Certain issues which are ecological in nature like health of Loktak lake -- India’s biggest fresh water lake -- has come into prominence like a metaphor. “More money we sent to clean the river, the dirtier it became,” said federal government's Jitendra Singh. But why so much of Manipur in public discourse? It is because of the importance the RSS, or Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh -- the parent organisation of BJP -- puts on the frontier regions of the country. It is this reason why both Kashmir and the Northeast are being personally handled by Ram Madhav, who was inducted into BJP from RSS before Lok Sabha elections in 2014. Poll victories in Kashmir and Assam gave legitimacy to BJP's status of being a pan-India party. Just like the Karnataka victory in 2008 fanned BJP's presence in South India, a victory in Manipur would consolidate its footprint in the Northeast. “Northeast is a priority for us and we will take this fight to every state,” said Assam's finance minister Jimanta Biswa Sarma, who played the most crucial role in bringing BJP into power in Assam. Manipur will go to polls on March 4 and March 8. (WION)

Manipur's months-long blockade eclipses other woes in election season

A day after Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal donated Rs 50,000 to Irom Sharmila&#39;s new party, another legislator from his party, Bhagwant Mann, has said he will donate a month of his salary to the human rights activist. 
 
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As a member of parliament m donating my one month salary to Irom Sharmila who is fighting against corrupt system n injustice in Manipur...
&mdash; Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) <a href="https://twitter.com/BhagwantMann/status/833165669105487873">February 19, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Bhagwant Mann is a prominent face of the AAP in Punjab and is taking on deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal from Jalalabad.

The Press Trust of India reported Sunday that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has come to the (financial) aid of human rights activist Irom Sharmila&#39;s new party.

It reported that Mr Kejriwal has donated Rs 50,000 to Sharmila&#39;s People&#39;s Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) party, which will be fighting the elections in Manipur.

Mr Kejriwal also took to Twitter, appealing to people to &quot;donate generously&quot; to the fledgling party. And he posted a link to where future donations can be made.&nbsp;

&quot;I am donating Rs 50,000 as my small contribution to her and appeal to everyone to support her,&quot; Mr Kejriwal tweeted. His move went down well with the Twitterati.&nbsp;

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Pl donate generously to Irom Sharmila <a href="https://t.co/NFmcouSrkd">https://t.co/NFmcouSrkd</a>
&mdash; Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal/status/832979368850776064">February 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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I&#39;d like to know if any other political party has ever been this generous!! <a href="https://twitter.com/ArvindKejriwal">@ArvindKejriwal</a> sets another precedence!<a href="https://t.co/Vnf5pbx1uP">https://t.co/Vnf5pbx1uP</a>
&mdash; Main Irom Hoon Na (@neo_pac) <a href="https://twitter.com/neo_pac/status/833025048218722304">February 18, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The PRJA, the Press Trust of India said, was grappling with a severe shortage of both cash and manpower. To buttress the point, it said its members were having to campaign on bicycles.

To try and make up the shortall, the PRJA has resorted to crowdfunding. They have so far managed to raise Rs 4.5 lakh.&nbsp;

The slogan they are using is&nbsp;&quot;Ten For a Change&quot;.

&quot;The online crowdfunding is in line with the party&#39;s call for accountable governance. When we started the party there was a lot of need for funds.

&quot;Online funds are transparent and normally political parties face a backlash because they don&#39;t have transparency in their funds,&quot; PRJA&#39;s convener, Erendro Leichonbam told reporters.

(WION with inputs from PTI)

Sharmila's party -- People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance -- has been raising cash via crowdfunding

A day after Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal donated Rs 50,000 to Irom Sharmila's new party, another legislator from his party, Bhagwant Mann, has said he will donate a month of his salary to the human rights activist. As a member of parliament m donating my one month salary to Irom Sharmila who is fighting against corrupt system n injustice in Manipur... — Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) February 19, 2017 × Bhagwant Mann is a prominent face of the AAP in Punjab and is taking on deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal from Jalalabad. The Press Trust of India reported Sunday that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has come to the (financial) aid of human rights activist Irom Sharmila's new party. It reported that Mr Kejriwal has donated Rs 50,000 to Sharmila's People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) party, which will be fighting the elections in Manipur. Mr Kejriwal also took to Twitter, appealing to people to "donate generously" to the fledgling party. And he posted a link to where future donations can be made. "I am donating Rs 50,000 as my small contribution to her and appeal to everyone to support her," Mr Kejriwal tweeted. His move went down well with the Twitterati. Pl donate generously to Irom Sharmila https://t.co/NFmcouSrkd — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 18, 2017 × I'd like to know if any other political party has ever been this generous!! @ArvindKejriwal sets another precedence!https://t.co/Vnf5pbx1uP — Main Irom Hoon Na (@neo_pac) February 18, 2017 × The PRJA, the Press Trust of India said, was grappling with a severe shortage of both cash and manpower. To buttress the point, it said its members were having to campaign on bicycles. To try and make up the shortall, the PRJA has resorted to crowdfunding. They have so far managed to raise Rs 4.5 lakh. The slogan they are using is "Ten For a Change". "The online crowdfunding is in line with the party's call for accountable governance. When we started the party there was a lot of need for funds. "Online funds are transparent and normally political parties face a backlash because they don't have transparency in their funds," PRJA's convener, Erendro Leichonbam told reporters. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Manipur elections: Short on cash, Irom Sharmila's party gets 50K from Kejriwal, month's salary from Bhagwant Mann

A united opposition on Thursday visited the office of India&#39;s Election Commission to discuss the date of the Budget Session and demanded that it be presented once the assembly elections are over.

&quot;Populist measures could be taken in budget, so a just and fair election can&#39;t be held. We demand that budget be presented after March 8, which is when polling for elections will be over,&quot; said Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad after meeting the poll panel.

Trinamool Congress, Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other opposition parties met the Commission.

The Budget Session of the Parliament will begin on February 1.

The Election Commission on Tuesday announced seven-phase polling for 403 assembly constituencies in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, two-phase polling in Manipur and one-phase polling each in the states of Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa respectively.

While the Election Commission said it will examine a representation made by parties opposing the February 1 Budget plan, finance minister Arun Jaitley defended the move asking why Opposition parties are afraid of it when they have claimed that demonetization is an unpopular decision.

Parties including Congress, Left, SP and BSP wrote to the Election Commission and the President opposing the advancing of the budget presentation to February 1 before the polls.

&quot;It is a collective and serious concern of the Opposition parties that advancing the presentation of budget to February 1 will provide an opportunity to the government to make populist announcements to influence voters. This will not only give unfair advantage to the ruling party but will also undermine the process of free and fair elections. It is therefore demanded that in view of the forthcoming elections and the precedent of 2012, the advancement of the presentation of the budget should not be allowed,&quot; Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi.

&nbsp;

(This report first appeared in DNA)

The opposition parties met the election commissioner today.The Budget Session of the Parliament is scheduled to begin on February 1

A united opposition on Thursday visited the office of India's Election Commission to discuss the date of the Budget Session and demanded that it be presented once the assembly elections are over. "Populist measures could be taken in budget, so a just and fair election can't be held. We demand that budget be presented after March 8, which is when polling for elections will be over," said Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad after meeting the poll panel. Trinamool Congress, Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other opposition parties met the Commission. The Budget Session of the Parliament will begin on February 1. The Election Commission on Tuesday announced seven-phase polling for 403 assembly constituencies in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, two-phase polling in Manipur and one-phase polling each in the states of Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa respectively. While the Election Commission said it will examine a representation made by parties opposing the February 1 Budget plan, finance minister Arun Jaitley defended the move asking why Opposition parties are afraid of it when they have claimed that demonetization is an unpopular decision. Parties including Congress, Left, SP and BSP wrote to the Election Commission and the President opposing the advancing of the budget presentation to February 1 before the polls. "It is a collective and serious concern of the Opposition parties that advancing the presentation of budget to February 1 will provide an opportunity to the government to make populist announcements to influence voters. This will not only give unfair advantage to the ruling party but will also undermine the process of free and fair elections. It is therefore demanded that in view of the forthcoming elections and the precedent of 2012, the advancement of the presentation of the budget should not be allowed," Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi. (This report first appeared in DNA)

India: Opposition demands budget be presented after upcoming five-state elections

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