The Congress party has strongly urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the state of Manipur before the upcoming Parliament session, citing the ongoing violence in the region. On Monday, Congress demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah, blaming the “double engine government” for the state’s instability.
Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh emphasized that the Prime Minister should meet an all-party delegation from Manipur and organize a national-level meeting to address the crisis ahead of the Parliament session beginning on November 25.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Manipur Congress leader K Meghachandra Singh and state in-charge Girish Chodankar, Ramesh criticized the government’s response, calling for the resignations of both Shah and Manipur’s Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
Ramesh criticizes PM’s absence in Manipur despite escalating turmoil
“Since May 3, 2023, Manipur has been in turmoil, while the Prime Minister has been traveling abroad, delivering speeches, but has not found time to visit the state. Our primary demand is for the PM to visit Manipur before the Parliament session and engage with local politicians, civil society groups, and the people in relief camps,” Ramesh stated.
Ramesh also pointed to the lack of a full-time governor in Manipur since July 31, 2024, noting that the previous governor, a Scheduled Tribe (ST) person, was removed after only 18 months. He called for an immediate appointment of a permanent governor for the state.
Further accusing the Prime Minister of outsourcing the responsibility for Manipur’s crisis to the Home Minister, Ramesh questioned the inaction of both Modi and Shah regarding the rising drug trade. “If they are genuinely committed to tackling the drug mafia, why have they not taken action on pending cases?” he asked.
He reiterated that the urgent need was for Modi to visit Manipur and address the suffering, pointing out that over 300 lives had been lost and more than 60,000 people displaced due to the violence.
Citing the results of the 2022 election, where the BJP secured 32 out of 60 seats in Manipur, Ramesh stated that the government’s failure to manage the state’s security and stability was evident within 15 months of taking power. “The double engine government has faltered, and the Home Minister must take responsibility for the failure. We demand his resignation,” he said.
Manipur Congress president Meghachandra Singh condemned the “complete anarchy” under the current administration, describing the lack of law and order as unbearable for the people of Manipur. He lamented the abductions and killings of innocent civilians, particularly women and children.
Referring to Modi’s 2017 statement about those unable to maintain peace in the state not deserving to govern, Singh asked, “Is the double engine government now upholding law and order? Why is the PM ignoring Manipur?”
Singh also criticized Modi’s failure to speak up for Manipur, accusing him of neglecting the state. He urged the Prime Minister to visit the state and meet with both BJP and Congress leaders. Singh also pointed out the human rights violations taking place, which he argued have worsened under the current administration.
Girish Chodankar, addressing the situation, said that the violence in Manipur was a tragic result of the double engine government’s rule. “The state is without leadership, and there is no one to guide it out of this crisis.
Frustration is driving abductions and violence, which reflects the failure of both the state and central governments,” he remarked. He also praised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who visited Manipur three times, as well as Mallikarjun Kharge and other Congress leaders for their efforts to bring peace.
The state continues to be embroiled in violence, with reports of several incidents including the ransacking of Congress and BJP offices in the hill district of Jiribam. The violence also saw the destruction of a BJP MLA’s ancestral home in Imphal Valley and attacks on other properties linked to political figures.
Despite curfews in place, security forces thwarted an attempt by protesters to attack the ancestral residence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The Congress has repeatedly criticized the central government’s handling of the ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur, which has resulted in over 200 deaths since May 2023.
