National
'Cong. alone can provide stable Govt. in Manipur'
By Our Correspondent
IMPHAL, FEB. 9. The Congress is the only party which can provide a stable and popular Government in Manipur and protect its territorial integrity, the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, has said.
Undertaking a hurricane election tour of the State despite a call by the outlawed RPF to boycott her visit, she addressed a meeting at Thoubal where she said the BJP-led NDA was responsible for violent protests, leading to the destruction of Government properties and the Assembly secretariat, and the death of 18 persons in June, 2001, as it had extended the Naga ceasefire.
She had come in the public interest, though she was aware of the boycott call, Ms. Gandhi said. Her party was aware of the problem of armed movement and would work for durable peace in the region. Only a political dialogue could permanently solve insurgency.
The Congress could not mobilise many people for the meeting because of the RPF call.
There was tight security in the Valley in the wake of Ms. Gandhi's visit. The Army, the BSF, civil police and para- military troops were deployed. A helicopter was used to transport her from Tulihal airport to Kangla.
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