The Congress Party has strongly criticized Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s recent remark suggesting that the people of the North Eastern Region should be “grateful” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for basic development and job appointments, calling the statement “deeply problematic” and evidence of a “patronizing mindset toward the region.”
Rajesh Kumar Sethi, National Coordinator of the AICC Minority Department and in-charge of Manipur, said, “To set the record straight, the Prime Minister of India is not doing a favor to the Northeast; he is simply performing his constitutional duty. Roads, jobs, connectivity, drinking water, and security are not gifts from the ruling party—they are entitlements of every citizen in a democracy.”
Sethi questioned whether people should express gratitude “for being given what is already our right,” or instead hold elected leaders accountable “for failing to deliver on promises, especially when they come to power by making grand declarations.”
Referring to the long-pending Naga political issue, Sethi reminded the public of Prime Minister Modi’s 2015 announcement that a final peace accord would be signed within a few months. “At a time when only 3 or 4 groups were involved in talks,” the PM’s claim appeared confident. However, “today, nearly a decade later, the situation has only worsened,” he said, pointing out that “instead of peace, we now have 28 groups in the fray, a dramatic escalation of complexity, confusion, and division.”
“Is this the ‘development’ the people of Nagaland or the region are expected to be grateful for?” Sethi asked, adding that the region deserves “a candid explanation of how a hastily promised solution has devolved into a prolonged and deepening crisis.”
The Congress leader also slammed Prime Minister Modi’s continued silence over the ongoing crisis in Manipur. “Despite over 200 deaths, thousands displaced, and countless homes and churches burnt, PM Modi has not set foot in Manipur since the outbreak of violence,” he noted. “Can a region truly feel supported when its cries are met with calculated silence?” he added, asserting that “leadership is not about social media statements, it is about standing with your people in their darkest hours.”
Turning attention to Nagaland’s commercial hub, Dimapur, Sethi said the city is “reeling under the devastating effects of severe flooding and a complete collapse of basic infrastructure.” He questioned, “Where is the gratitude supposed to come from, when even basic governance is missing?”
Reinforcing the Congress Party’s stance, Sethi stated, “The Congress Party has always believed in serving people, not seeking applause. We do not expect citizens to thank us for doing our job.”
The statement concluded with a call to the public to “reject this culture of manufactured gratitude” and instead demand “accountable, inclusive, and effective governance.”
