NEW DELHI: Indian Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of abandoning Manipur during a critical period of ethnic clashes and violence in the state that erupted in May. Ramesh stated that the Prime Minister cannot evade accountability and responsibility by ignoring the crisis.
In a video message shared on various platforms, Ramesh highlighted the Prime Minister’s lack of action and questioned his failure to meet with the Chief Minister of Manipur and elected MLAs of the state, most of whom belong to Modi’s BJP party or are its allies. Ramesh raised concerns about Modi’s limited public statements regarding Manipur violence, emphasizing that the Prime Minister had spoken briefly, under pressure from the Opposition, and only for a few minutes.
Modi’s Absence from Manipur
Ramesh criticized Modi’s shameless absence from Manipur, despite his frequent travels, and questioned the Prime Minister’s commitment to addressing the situation in the state. He pointed out that Modi, who often travels extensively, had not found it necessary to spend even a few hours in Manipur to demonstrate his concern for the crisis.
The Congress party has been vocal in its criticism of the Modi government’s handling of the Manipur crisis. The party has demanded the removal of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, holding him responsible for failing to control the situation.
The violence in Manipur was triggered by a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in the hill districts of the state, protesting against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The conflict has led to the deaths of at least 175 people and left over 1,100 injured.
