PM evokes \'Gandhi magic\' in Mizoram

AIZAWL: At a packed Assam Rifles ground in Aizawl, PM Manmohan Singh unleashed a bitter attack on Zoramthanga\'s MNF Government, charging it with failure on every count — particularly the education and power sectors. Saying that Congress did not believe in a pointless blame game, Manmohan said the failure of Zoramthanga\'s government was there for all to see. Manmohan also called himself a man from the Northeast and said: \"It\'s always a proud moment for me to re-affirm the enduring ties of love and affection that bind Congress with the people here. As you know, I am an MP from Northeast and consider myself an adopted son of the region.\" Continuing his tirade against the MNF government, the PM said, \"The Central Government made grants of more than Rs 3,800 crore to Mizoram between 2004-08. But its utilization by the state government has been poor.\" It was not Congress\'s policy to discriminate between states as far as financial assistance was concerned, he added. Referring to the various schemes of the UPA government, Manmohan said the MNF government got its rightful share which was squandered. \"If these central programmes are not reaching your lives in Mizoram, it\'s because the MNF government has failed. Corruption under MNF has shot up,\" PM said. The PM said he was alarmed to see that even programmes meant for the poor were mismanaged. \"There are allegations of irregularities by the state government machinery even in NREGS and the loan waiver scheme; funds meant for tribal welfare have been squandered,\" Manmohan Singh alleged. He appealed to the Mizo people to form a Congress government and punish the MNF for its failures. Donning a typical Mizo waistcoat and a traditional Mizo bag, Manmohan drove home the point that he was perfectly aware that the Mizos have a soft corner for the Gandhi family. He, therefore, did not forget to mention the \"Gandhi magic\" during his first election meeting in Mizoram. \"Mizoram has a close relationship with Congress. Our beloved former PM Rajiv Gandhi was instrumental in ending years of insurgency and violence in the state,\" he said, adding, \"The people of Mizoram responded magnificently to the call and wholeheartedly joined the national mainstream.\"

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