Mokokchung, 24 September (MTNews): Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, addressed the sensitive issue of Manipur during an interview session at ‘The Conclave’ in New Delhi. In his conversation with the consulting editor of Pratidin Time, Sarma emphasized that he respects Manipur’s integrity and refrains from interfering in its internal affairs.
“Manipur is our nearest neighbor; hence, I have no right to interfere in its internal matters. This is the most significant lesson I’ve learned throughout my political career. If I had done otherwise, the relationship between both states would have been strained for the foreseeable future. It was a conscious decision by my party that I should not overstep. Any misadventure on my part would have led to hostility between Assam and Manipur. We cannot afford that,” stated Sarma, as reported by Pratidin Time.
Sarma acknowledged that while Assam has played a role in stabilizing the Manipur issue, discussions on the matter must be approached with caution. He further noted that he maintains continuous communication with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and other political leaders in the state.
Highlighting perceptions in some Northeastern regions, Sarma mentioned that some bordering states view Assam as an elder brother who does not provide them with enough space.
“At some point, if one tries to be overly active, one must also learn the art of restraint. As the NEDA convener, my duty is to ensure that both of Manipur’s seats should go to the BJP. We are confident of winning both seats,” further quoted CM Sarma.
Regarding the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, Sarma expressed confidence that the BJP would secure victory across the entire Northeast. He predicted that the BJP would win at least 11 out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam and claimed victory in all seats in other Northeastern states except one.
Sarma also responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s statement that Lok Sabha 2024 would be ‘surprising’ for the BJP. Sarma said, “There will be no surprise. Indian people are very predictable. Let surprises be in the moon or the sun, not in India. He (Rahul Gandhi) consistently underestimates the people of India. Indian people are stable and predictable. Surprises do not happen in politics.”
Rahul Gandhi, speaking at the same conclave, had made predictions regarding the outcome of state elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He expressed confidence in the Congress’s prospects in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and possibly Telangana, and described a closely contested race in Rajasthan. However, Sarma dismissed any notion of a surprise outcome in the 2024 elections.
“People of India are predictable, and they know very well that the NDA is returning to power in 2024,” Sarma asserted. He cited the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as key factors contributing to their anticipated victory. Sarma stated, “There is no room for Congress in the 2024 elections. In 2014 and 2019, Modiji was at his best, and the result will be even better in 2024.”