IMPHAL, March 20 - Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday promised that his party will initiate steps to make North East a centre for job creation and manufacture, apart from making Manipur a bridge between India and South East Asia under the Look East Policy. He also assured to initiate the Northeastern States Industrial Policy if the party is voted to power.
Addressing a public meeting at Hapta Kangjeibung ground in Imphal East district to launch the party�s campaign in the State for the Lok Sabha polls, Gandhi said, �I�m committed to the idea of Look East, I want to make Look East Policy a reality and I also want to make Manipur and North East a bridge between India and Asia. This is your destiny�, he added.
He also reiterated the party�s opposition to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB). �We�re committed not to allow anybody to touch Manipur�s culture, language and history of Manipur. We�ll ensure CAB do not become a law,� he said.
He also assured restoration of the special category status of Manipur and other Northeastern States.
The Congress chief also strongly criticised the BJP Government at Centre for its false promises.
Congress Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and State Congress president Gaikhangam also spoke at the public rally.
Earlier, the Congress president had an hour-long interaction with youngsters and students at MFDC auditorium.
Gandhi arrived here Tuesday on a two-day visit after addressing a rally in Itanagar. Soon after his arrival, he drove to Congress Bhavan and paid floral tributes at the Saheed Minar. He also attended a meeting with Pradesh Congress Committee members in Imphal.
The Congress is yet to announce the names of its candidates for the Lok Sabha polls which are scheduled to be held on April 11 and 18. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Congress won both the Inner and Outer Manipur parliamentary constituencies.
