Imphal, December 03: Reminding that no political party had ever won absolute majority in the electoral history of Manipur, NCP Manipur unit president Radhabinod Koijam has asserted that the claim of the Congress party that it is looking forward to winning absolute majority in the upcoming Assembly elections is only a pipe dream.

Speaking at a one day NCP workers' conference at Slopeland Oil Pump complex, Samurou, organised by the NCP Wangoi Kendra Committee, Radhabinod said that NCP has never made unrealistic claims of getting absolute majority.

However, NCP would strive to emerge as the single largest party after the 9th Assembly elections, he asserted.

Reacting to the statement of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh that certain clauses of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 would be amended rather than scrapping the Act in toto, the NCP chief observed that the visit of the Prime Minister to the State was a big disappointment to the people.

The statement of the Prime Minister was a clear indicator that the Government of India is not in favour of repealing the Act from Manipur, he observed while construing that the stand of the Union Government was akin to declaring that many more civilians would be killed and numerous women would be raped and sexually harassed in the coming days under the immunity provided by the draconian Act.

Remarking that the announcement made by Dr Manmohan Singh for provision of some crores of rupees to the State was a part of the Congress party's election campaign, Radhabinod alleged that the Prime Minister may have known that Chief Minister O Ibobi would deduct a certain percentage from the fund sanctioned for use in the Assembly elections.

Speaking at the conference, president of the All India Nationalist Youth Congress Conrad Sangma observed that essential commodities like rice, kerosene and cooking gas were sold at exorbitant prices in the markets of Manipur while conveying doubt whether the SPF Government had any part in the black marketing of essential commodities.

He opined that peace could be restored only when there was development.

The NCP candidate of Wangoi constituency Salam Joy asserted that MLA Local Area Development Funds under the former Chief Minister who was elected from the constituency and the incumbent were never utilised for the welfare of people.

The conference was attended by thousands of NCP workers and functionaries.