If PM Modi Leads Peace Rally In Manipur, We Will Join, Says Cong Leader Adhir Chowdhury

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury with an aim to stop the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lead an all-party delegation in the northeastern state.

Chowdhury stated that the Prime Minister must reassure the citizens living in the war-torn state to not fear any longer and put an end to their misery by restoring peace.

According to reports Chowdhury who was part of a television show 'Aap Ki Adalat' said on camera that if PM Modi holds a peace rally in Manipur, then "we will join" as he spoke on behalf of the opposition parties. 

Chowdhury reportedly said, "We made this suggestion in writing in the House, but they did not agree. This is nothing but 'bahumat ka bahubali' (arrogance of majority)".

Chowdhury then replied to the question asked about the opposition leaders walking out of Lok Sabha during PM Modi's address recently, to which he said, "During his speech, we waited for him to speak on Manipur for two hours, but he did not do so. Even his ministers started dozing off during his speech. You can watch the visuals."

He also added, "He spoke on the Manipur issue only for three minutes towards the end of his speech. Had we known that he would speak on Manipur, we would not have walked out."

Adhir Chowdhury on rivalry with TMC

Claiming that the fight against PM Modi and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee is "not personal, but political and ideological" Adhit Chowdhury explained his recent comment on TMC when he called them, "a party of thieves", he clarified saying, "Patna's (opposition meeting) topic was different and Bengal's topic was different. Panchayat elections were going on in Bengal... At a time when the INDIA bloc has been formed at a national level, and Narendra Modi has become worried, it is impossible for me to react more on this."

Further Chowdhury spoke about ongoing violence in West Bengal, he said, "Kuch bhi theek nahin hai (Nothing is alright). Hum jo karte hain, locally karte hain (whatever we do, we do it locally). Iska matlab yeh nahin ki sab theek hai (it does not mean, everything is alright)."

He added, "There is a difference between pond (talaab) and river (nadi). For me, Bengal is a pond, and India is a river. Naturally, we will give more preference to the river than to a pond. I say what I want to say. I do not speak snidely or behind anyone's back."

On who was his biggest political enemy, Modi or Mamata Banerjee, Chowdhury said, "I don't consider anyone as an enemy, but they are adversaries. I accord full respect to our prime minister, and I also respect Mamata ji because she is our chief minister. But when people's issues are concerned, I will continue to raise their voices. My fight against them is not personal, but political and ideological."

Asked whether there is any possibility of a patch-up with Banerjee, Chowdhury replied, "Politics is the art of the possible."

Chowdhury, who has been suspended for certain remarks on Prime Minister Modi, also said his comments were taken differently when he was referring to 'Nirav' which means 'silent'.