Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the situation in Manipur, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Monday that he (Modi) “left” the people of the northeastern state to “fend for themselves”.

He also claimed that there was no normalcy in the strife-torn state.

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“It has been 9 months since the unabated violence has devastated innumerable lives in Manipur, but PM Modi hasn’t had an hour to visit the state. Why? He last visited Manipur in February 2022 only to campaign for elections, and now has left the people of Manipur to fend for themselves,” Kharge said.

Following ethnic clashes in Manipur on May 3, 2023, hundreds of people lost their lives while thousands of others were forced to take refuge in relief camps. Chief Minister N Biren Singh had claimed that the state was returning to normalcy.

Kharge, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, further said, “More than 200 people have died since May 4, 2023. 60,000 people have been displaced. Around 50,000 people continue to languish in relief camps under despicable conditions without adequate medical facilities and food. People have already lost everything – their homes, livelihoods and belongings. They can’t go anywhere. Their future is bleak.”

Citing reports, he said over 80 people have died in the relief camps in Churachandpur alone due to trauma, malnutrition, and illness. The conditions of the camps in the state capital Imphal are no better.

“Whatever help is being provided in camps has come from collective efforts of good samaritans, NGOs, and not the State government. Women and children are suffering because of complete apathy and neglect shown by the BJP,” the Congress chief wrote on X.

Claiming that since January 1, ten people died in renewed violence, he said, “Police trainees of two communities are shooting at each other. 7 have been injured. On January 24, we witnessed how an armed group coerced MPs/MLAs to attend a meeting at heavily guarded Kangla Fort where the Manipur Congress president was brutally assaulted and tortured.”

“PM Modi’s assurance to the people of Manipur in August 2023, in the Parliament reverberates hollow. There is no normalcy and peace in sight. BJP’s ‘double engine’ government has dealt several blows to the people of Manipur,” said Kharge.

It may be mentioned here that the prime minister has been facing criticism from the Opposition parties for not visiting the northeastern state. They have been accusing the BJP-led governments in the state as well as at the Centre of failure to resolve the issue.