PM Modi in Moscow, Rahul in Imphal: Congress renews attack on Manipur | India News

NEW DELHI: Manipur has been one of the most potent weapons in the arsenal of the Congress-led opposition to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government since May last year when ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the state, leaving over 200 people dead.
On Monday, the head of Congress Rahul Gandhiwho has made the Manipur issue one of the central themes of his attack on the Modi government, made his third visit to the strife-torn state to meet victims of violence sheltered in relief camps. While Modi, who is yet to visit the state, is on a two-day trip to Russia, the Congress was quick to attack the prime minister once again for ignoring the plight of Manipur.
“Today, the non-biological PM is visiting Moscow while the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha is visiting Assam and Manipur. Of course, the spokespersons of the non-biological PM have claimed that he has stopped the war between Russia and Ukraine for some time. Presumably, this trip to Moscow will lead to even more bizarre statements,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh wrote on X.
“The non-biological Prime Minister did not find the time or even the inclination to visit Manipur even for a few hours after the severe crisis broke out on May 3, 2023. He did not even meet the CM of the state – who happens to be from his own party – and other political leaders of the state, including MLAs and MPs,” the Congress leader added targeting the Prime Minister.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also participated in the attack. In a message posted on X, she said, “Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi ji today met the victims of violence in Manipur and consoled and encouraged them. Manipur has been in the grip of violence for over a year. Hundreds of people have lost their lives. Thousands are living in relief camps. But the BJP government at the Centre has not taken any positive initiative to restore peace and the Prime Minister has not visited Manipur either.”

After his day-long visit, Rahul expressed disappointment over the Centre's efforts to help the people of Manipur and once again urged the Prime Minister to visit the state. “I was expecting the situation to improve, but I was disappointed to see that the situation is still far from what it should be. I have visited the camps and I have heard the people there, I have heard their pain. I have come here to listen to them, to give them confidence and, as an opposition member, to try to put pressure on the government to take action,” Rahul said.
Congress attacks in Manipur
The Congress has not shied away from attacking the Prime Minister for not visiting Manipur in the last 14 months. During the just-concluded parliamentary session, PM Modi The Prime Minister had to face opposition slogans on Manipur throughout his speech in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Although the Prime Minister did not mention Manipur in his Lok Sabha speech, he criticised the opposition in the Rajya Sabha for politicising the issue.
“We are continuously trying to maintain peace and stability in Manipur. More than 11,000 FIRs have been registered and more than 500 people have been arrested in Manipur, which is a very small state. Today, violent incidents are coming down. This means peace is possible,” Prime Minister Modi said while responding to the motion of thanks during the President's address in the Rajya Sabha.
“The central and state governments are actively working to resolve regional issues with patience and peace. Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Manipur and stayed there for weeks, engaging with the relevant stakeholders,” the Prime Minister said.
PM Modi also criticised the Congress for imposing President's rule in the state ten times during its tenure and also recalled the 1993 wave of violence that lasted for around five years. The prime minister was responding to Rahul's allegations that the BJP-led NDA government had pushed Manipur into a civil war.
Rahul's first visit to the state as leader of the opposition could pave the way for a fresh round of showdowns in Parliament over the issue during the Budget session that begins on July 22.
Why was Congress aggressive towards Manipur?
The 2024 assembly elections have offered a ray of hope to the Congress in the northeast. The Congress has won two seats in Manipur, one seat in Nagaland and one seat in Meghalaya from the BJP and its allies, besides winning three seats in Assam.
The grand party that was once a dominant player in the region has been nearly wiped out by the BJP and its allies in the last 10 years. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA won 19 of the 25 seats in the region, while the Congress got only 4. The Congress would like to use this small window of hope to revive its influence in the region.
Rahul's Nyay Yatra
The Congress had also focused on Manipur in the run-up to the Lok Sabha campaign. In January, Rahul Gandhi had launched his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Thoubal in Manipur. The Congress leader had then said that Manipur was an example of the BJP's “politics of hate” and asserted that “perhaps for Narendra Modi, the BJP and the RSS, Manipur is not part of India”.
RSS steps up attack on Congress
The opposition was strengthened on the Manipur issue after the elections when RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed concern that peace was still not restored in the state even after a year. Addressing a gathering of RSS trainees, Bhagwat said, “Manipur has been waiting for peace for the last one year. There was peace in Manipur ten years ago. It felt like the gun culture had ended there. But suddenly the state witnessed violence.”
“The situation in Manipur will have to be given priority. Election rhetoric should be kept aside and focus should be placed on the issues facing the nation,” the RSS chief said. “The unrest has been triggered or has been triggered, but Manipur is burning and people are facing its extreme heat,” the RSS chief added.
The Congress was quick to react to Bhagwat's remarks and hit out at Prime Minister Modi. “Maybe Bhagwat can convince the 'former RSS chief' to visit the northeastern state,” the party said in response to the RSS chief's remarks.
“He is trying to politicize the issue”
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised Rahul for his visit to Manipur and said he was trying to politicise the issue. “Manipur is a sensitive issue. Everyone should make efforts to bring peace there. Rahul Gandhi is politicising this issue. The Lok Sabha elections are over. Manipur needs ointments. The distance between the two communities should be minimised,” the BJP leader said.
(With contributions from agencies)