Manipur needs 100 pct development, not 10 pct CM: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took a dig at Ibobi Okram Singh, stating the Manipur Chief Minister was infamous for taking 10 percent commission as bribe.

"Have you ever heard a 10 percent chief minister? At first I did not understand what it meant. When I asked the people, they said told me that I would not understand," Prime Minister Modi said during a rally in Imphal.

He said for 15 years the Congress-led government in the state denied development in the state.

Asserting that the people need a corruption free government, the Prime Minister said, "No we need a zero percent chief minister, we need a zero percent government only then the people would be benefitted."

Prime Minister Modi also slammed Singh for failing to resolve month long economic blockade despite getting assistance from the Centre.

"The Indian constitution dictates that the responsibility falls on the state government. The state government has the responsibility to provide essential commodities to the people. Isn't it the state government's responsibility to provide essential commodities such as sugar and salt, medicines and pulses? Still there are protests on the streets. People don't have grains. What kind of a government is that? This is a clear example of their failure," he said.

He also stated that for the past 40 years, no Prime Minister of the country has come to northeast for the North East Council meeting.

"When Morarji Desai was the Prime Minister, he came for an NSC meeting. I was the first prime minister after 40 years who came here for the meeting," he said.

He said that the youth of Manipur are unable to secure jobs on the basis of merit.

"Jobs have been categorized according to different rates. If you want to be a teacher - pay a certain amount; same for being a cop or a chef at a minister's house. How is this allowed to go on?"

He also urged the people to let the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) serve people of Manipur and assured developmental works would be undertaken within 15 months.

"I urge you to let the BJP serve the people of Manipur. Just give us 5 years. You gave them 15 years. In 15 months, we'll do what they haven't," he said.