Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Union government over the ongoing crisis in Manipur, accusing it of failing to restore peace and security in the violence-hit state.
Addressing reporters, Kharge highlighted the dire situation in Manipur, stating, “Many people have died, hundreds were raped, homes were burnt, and schools and colleges remain closed. There is no security in the state. The government has completely failed in providing a solution.”
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha earlier, the Congress chief demanded a thorough inquiry into the violence and urged the central government to present a White Paper on the crisis. “For two years, Manipur has been burning, and the government has failed to stop the violence. More than 260 people have lost their lives, and over 60,000 have been displaced. Families have been torn apart, yet the BJP government remains a mute spectator,” he said. Kharge also pointed out the economic repercussions of the conflict, citing a sharp decline in GST collections and overall economic collapse in the state.
Kharge further criticized the former Manipur Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh, stating that he should have taken moral responsibility and resigned on the first day of the violence. “The BJP is more concerned with saving Prime Minister Narendra Modi than restoring peace in Manipur. The Prime Minister has refused to visit the state. Why has Modi ji not set foot in Manipur even once despite the turmoil? He has traveled to numerous foreign countries during this period but did not have time for Manipur. Rahul Gandhi went and met the victims, Supreme Court judges and NGOs visited, but the Prime Minister remained absent,” Kharge said.
Accusing the BJP of having no roadmap to bring peace to Manipur, Kharge asked, “What is the government doing? The Prime Minister has time for election rallies but not for Manipur. He has failed to bring peace. That is why I demand an inquiry and insist that a White Paper be placed before the House so that the nation knows who is responsible for this crisis. When people were crying for food in Manipur, the government did nothing.”
The Congress leader urged Prime Minister Modi to visit Manipur at the earliest and take decisive action to restore law and order in the state.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved a resolution in the Rajya Sabha for the approval of the Presidential proclamation on President’s Rule in Manipur. The state has been under President’s Rule since February, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. The Ministry of Home Affairs had announced that President’s Rule was imposed under Article 356 of the Constitution on February 13, just five days after Singh stepped down.
Manipur has been engulfed in ethnic violence since May 3, 2023, when clashes erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities following a rally organized by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM).
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