Congress says President's rule failed to end violence in Manipur, demands polls

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Saturday vociferously demanded that elections should be held in Manipur at the earliest as it alleged that President's rule imposed in February has failed to put an end to violence and the situation is far from normal.

The opposition party trained its guns at Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it questioned why he has not visited strife-torn Manipur so far.

With May 3 marking two years since violence first broke out in Manipur, the Congress leadership led by party president Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that since January 2022, the last election rally of the PM in Manipur, Modi has made 44 foreign visits and 250 domestic visits across the nation. “Yet you have not spent a single second in Manipur. Why this apathy and disdain for the people of Manipur? Where is the political accountability?,” Kharge asked in a statement.

Mocking the BJP slogan, he said, "Your double assault govt is still failing Manipur. Despite the home ministry's rule in place now, incidents of violence haven't stopped, Kharge alleged and added, “ Modi ji once again you failed upholding—Rajdharma!!”.

Addressing a press conference at AICC in Delhi, Congress’ Manipur in-charge, Saptagiri Ulaka, and the Pradesh Congress Committee president, Keisham Meghachandra Singh highlighted that the President’s Rule had neither helped in improving the situation nor in restoring peace and the confidence of people. They also questioned the intention of the govt for not making public the report of the commission constituted by the home minister on the violence.

“The violence began on May 3, 2023 and still continues. Just two days ago, 25 people were injured in a violent clash in Tamenglong district. More than 260 people have died. 68,000 people displaced and thousands are still living in relief camps,” Kharge said.

Meghachandra pointed out that despite the formation of the Peace Committee in 2023, no meeting has been held till now.

Earlier in the day, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh said, "what began on May 3, 2023, therefore, was the self-dictated, self-directed derailment of the so-called double engine sarkar in the state. Three months later, the Supreme Court was compelled to declare that there had been an absolute breakdown of Constitutional machinery in the state."


"The anguish and suffering of Manipur continues. Political games are being played. No worthwhile reconciliation process is under way," he added.