The Congress on Sunday launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he extended his greetings to the people of the state on its statehood day. The party described his best wishes as yet another demonstration of his “hypocrisy”.
Questioning the prime minister’s silence on the situation in Manipur arising from ethnic clashes, the party asked why he has not visited the strife-torn state.
Notably, hundreds of people lost their lives while thousands others were forced to take refuge in relief camps following ethnic clashes in the northeastern state on May 3, 2023. The state is still restive even as Chief Minister N Biren Singh said the state is returning to normalcy.
“The prime minister tweets on Manipur Statehood Day but has not found the time nor thought it necessary to visit the state which has gone through so much pain and agony since May 3rd, 2023. The distress of the people of the state continues. Violence persists,” said Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh in a social media post.
Pointing out that social harmony has been destroyed in the northeastern state, Ramesh, who is also the Congress’ MP in Rajya Sabha, said, “But the PM maintains his silence and refuses to meet political leaders and parties from the state. The good wishes he has expressed through social media are yet another demonstration of his hypocrisy.”
“On Manipur’s Statehood Day, my best wishes to the people of the state. Manipur has made a strong contribution to India’s progress. We take pride in the culture and traditions of the state. I pray for the continued development of Manipur,” the prime minister wrote in a post on X.
Earlier this month, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asked Modi why he has not visited Manipur and alleged that he lacks “compassion” for the state.
It may be mentioned here that the prime minister has been facing criticism from the Opposition parties for not visiting the northeastern state ever since ethnic clashes broke out in the state. They have been accusing the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state of failure to restore peace.
In July 2023, a delegation of Opposition MPs from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) visited Manipur to take stock of the situation arising from the ethnic violence.