Jairam Ramesh, a former Union Minister and senior Congress leader, accused the BJP government in Manipur of "bribing" banned armed organisations under the "Suspension of Operation" to "influence voters in the poll-bound State."

Ramesh, the Congress' election in-charge in Manipur, claimed that the BJP government in Manipur released over Rs 15.70 crore on February 1 and over Rs 92.65 lakh on March 1 to banned militant groups under the "Suspension of Operation" in a "shocking and flagrant violation" of the Election Commission's Model Code of Conduct. He stated that the Union Home Ministry has issued the funds and the State Government had made the payments.

"These contributions assured that the first-phase elections in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts on February 28 could not take place in a free, fair, and peaceful manner. Bribes to banned militant groups under the "Suspension of Operation" will also have an impact on the second round of voting in Tengnoupal and Chandel districts on March 5 "According to the Congressman, he informed the reporters. He said why he was sharing the check numbers and other banking details: "The BJP is buying elections in Manipur by instilling fear and frightening voters in the way. To stay in power, the BJP resorts to corruption in this manner."

Payments of crores of rupees in the run-up to the polls, according to the former Union Minister, show the goals of the "double-engine BJP Government." "These payments were made at a time when the majority of the State Government's one lakh employees had been without pay for two months.

"These unethical payments to militant outfits were made at a time when 6,000 mid-day meal cooks have been unpaid for 18 months, when the majority of former State Government employees have not received their pensions in the last six months, and when almost all pensioners have not received their retirement benefits," Ramesh said.  The Congress leader alleged that the BJP Governments at the Centre and the State, using money power, have turned "Manipur into Moneypur" and such a thing has never happened in the other parts of the country so far.

The pro-talks militant outfits, specially the Kuki groups, which are under ceasefire agreements with the Government for the past four years, are currently residing at various designated camps in Manipur. Around 2,000 cadres of various militant outfits are living in the 14 designated camps in different hill districts of Manipur.
 
Ramesh asserted that the Congress never opposed the "Suspension of Operation" against the militant outfits and never against the talks with the extremists groups.

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