New Delhi: The Congress party launched a sharp critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday for not visiting the violence-stricken state of Manipur.
The party pointed out that while the Prime Minister has travelled extensively across the world, he has yet to deem it necessary to engage with the distressed people of Manipur.
This criticism came on the first anniversary of the launch of the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,’ which began in Manipur on January 14 last year.
The yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, was aimed at addressing key issues such as unemployment, price hikes, and social justice.
The Congress also held a rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai to mark the conclusion of the ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra,’ which was conducted in a hybrid format leading up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh highlighted in a post on X, “Exactly one year ago today, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was launched by the Indian National Congress from Manipur. Following the success of the Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra, BJNY covered 6,600 km across 15 states, culminating in Mumbai on March 16, 2024.”
Ramesh continued, “Manipur is still waiting for a visit from the Prime Minister, who has found time, energy, and inclination to travel across the globe but has not seen it necessary to reach out to the suffering people of Manipur.”
The Congress leader further accused Modi of refusing to meet with political leaders in Manipur, including members of his own party and even the Chief Minister.
“The agony of Manipur has persisted since May 3, 2023,” Ramesh stated.
He also added that even the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports had recently postponed its planned visit to the state.
The Congress party has been outspoken in its criticism of both the Prime Minister’s inaction and the central government’s handling of the ongoing ethnic violence in the northeastern state.
Since May 2023, more than 220 people have been killed, and thousands have been displaced due to clashes between the Meitei community in Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo groups in the surrounding hills.
