Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a video message shared on X, expressed his accusation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "abandoned" Manipur precisely when the state needed his intervention the most, particularly in the context of the ethnic clashes that broke out in May. Ramesh contended that the Prime Minister cannot evade accountability and responsibility by simply disregarding the crisis.
He observed that not only the people of Manipur but the entire Northeast region were closely monitoring how the Prime Minister had neglected the state during a critical period that required his involvement and outreach. Ramesh raised various questions about the Prime Minister's perceived lack of action.
One of his queries revolved around the absence of meetings between the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Manipur, as well as the elected MLAs of the state, many of whom are affiliated with his party or its allies. Ramesh wondered why the Prime Minister, known for his extensive public speaking on a wide range of topics, had devoted only a few minutes to addressing the situation in Manipur, and that too, only after substantial pressure from the opposition.
Furthermore, he questioned why the Prime Minister, renowned for his frequent travels, had not deemed it appropriate to spend even a few hours in Manipur to demonstrate his concern for the crisis. The Congress has openly criticized the Modi government's handling of the Manipur crisis and is demanding the removal of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, alleging that he has failed to manage the situation.
The violence in Manipur began following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the state's hill districts, organized in protest of the Meitei community's request for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. This conflict has led to the loss of life for at least 175 individuals and injuries to over 1,100 more.
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