From Aizawl bombing to Nehru's 1962 speech: PM Modi uses history to attack Congress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday used instances from the history of the Northeast to attack the Congress during his reply to the no-confidence motion. The motion was moved by the Opposition on the violence in Manipur and PM Modi used specific references from Mizoram and Manipur to push the Congress to a corner.

But by the time PM Modi cited the instances from history, the Opposition had already walked out of the Lok Sabha.

The PM said he had an emotional attachment to the northeastern states and said he would quote examples to show how the Congress had dealt "unfairly" with the region.

WHEN IAF WAS USED TO BOMB AIZAWL

"Congress used the Indian Air Force to attack helpless citizens of Mizoramm on March 5, 1966," the prime minister said.

This was the only instance in the history of India when the Air Force was used against Indians. The Mizo Hills were then a part of Assam.

An armed movement started in what is present-day Mizoram against the backdrop of a famine that killed thousands. The Mizo National Famine Front, which was formed to tackle the food crisis, transformed into the Mizo National Front. It later added an armed wing, the Mizo National Army, which included former soldiers from a disbanded Assam Rifles battalion.

The Mizo National Army declared an offensive against Indian forces and overran the Aizawl treasury and armoury on March 2, 1966. Four IAF fighter jets were first used for a machine gun attack on Aizawl, and later to bomb it.

"On March 5, 1966, Congress made Air Force attack on helpless citizens of Mizoram. Congress should answer, were the people of Mizoram not the citizens of my country? Was it not the Indian Air Force? Even today, the people of Mizoram mourn the day every March 5. Congress has hidden this from the country. Who was the PM then? It was Indira Gandhi," PM Modi said.

NEHRU'S 1962 RADIO SPEECH

PM Modi also referred to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's speech in 1962 during the Chinese aggression.

During the Sino-Indian war, Jawaharlal Nehru delivered a poignant address on All India Radio. This speech was particularly directed towards the people of Assam and the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA), regions that were under significant threat from Chinese incursions.

Nehru expressed his resolve, saying "We shall not rest till the invader goes out of India or is pushed out."

"The terrifying broadcast from the All India Radio from 1962 still haunts the people of Congress. When India was attacked by China, Pt Nehru said on the radio 'My heart goes out to the people of Assam'. The people of Assam still remember how Nehru abandoned them," PM Modi said.

PM ATTACKS MANIPUR UNDER CONGRESS RULE

Coming to Manipur, PM Modi cited several instances when the northeast state was reeling under insurgency.

"There was a time in Manipur when every machinery was run at the will of insurgent organisations... Whose government was there in Manipur when Mahatma Gandhi's picture was not allowed in government offices, whose government was there in Manipur when the decision to not allow the national anthem in schools was taken?" PM Modi asked.

"Whose government was there when a bomb was hurled at the statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the Indian National Army museum in Moirang," PM Modi asked as NDA MPs echoed "Congress".

"When Manipur temples used to shut down at 4 pm, soldiers had to guard them, whose government was there," asked PM Modi to a chorus of "Congress" from the treasury benches.

The PM also referred to the 2006 grenade attack at Imphal's Iskcon temple that killed six devotees, including a woman and a child.