The Congress on Saturday strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Manipur, terming it a “farce” and “tokenism.”
Party president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the Prime Minister staged a grand welcome for himself, which he said amounted to a “cruel prick” to those still reeling from the violence in the state.
“Your 3-hour PIT STOP in Manipur is not compassion — it’s farce, tokenism, and a grave insult to wounded people. Your so-called ROADSHOW in Imphal and Churachandpur today, is nothing but a cowardly escape from hearing the cries of people in relief camps, Kharge said in a post on social media platform X.
The Prime Minister, who reached Manipur on Saturday, his first visit since ethnic violence broke out over two years ago, met and interacted with internally displaced people in Churachandpur and Imphal and inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth Rs 8,500 crore.
Kharge, however, criticised PM Modi for making 46 foreign trips since the violence began, but not visiting Manipur to share words of sympathy with the affected citizens, Kharge said: “Your last visit to Manipur? January 2022 — for elections! Your ‘Double Engine’ has bulldozed the innocent lives of Manipur. You and HM Amit Shah’s gross incompetence and complicity in betraying all communities were shielded from scrutiny, by imposing President’s Rule in the state.”
Asserting that “violence still continues,” Kharge alleged, “It is the BJP which was responsible for maintaining Law & Order in the state and it is now the Union Govt which is again dithering.”
“Not to forget, that is your government which is responsible for National Security and border patrol. This hush-hush PIT STOP isn’t repentance. It’s not even guilt,” Kharge said.
He further said: “You are organizing a GRAND WELCOME ceremony for yourself. It is a CRUEL PRICK to the wounds of those still suffering because of your own abdication of basic CONSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.” He questioned the Prime Minister’s commitment to upholding constitutional responsibilities, asking “In the words of your own…Where is your RAJDHARMA?”
The Congress has been critical of the government’s handling of the situation in Manipur, accusing them of gross incompetence and complicity in betraying all communities.