Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge escalated his criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing violence in Manipur, calling the Prime Minister’s handling of the crisis “unforgivable.”
Kharge also demanded the dismissal of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and called for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the violence.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Kharge expressed concern over the situation in Manipur, pointing to the remarks of former Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey, who stated that the people of the state are disappointed by Modi’s absence. “In the past 16 months, PM Modi ji has not spent a single second in Manipur, even as violence continues unabated in the state and people suffer the consequences of Modi-Shah’s complicity”.
Kharge further criticized CM Biren Singh, accusing him of incompetence and claiming that his request to transfer control of the Unified Command to the state government reflects the BJP’s failure to address the crisis.
The Unified Command, responsible for overseeing security in Manipur, is currently managed by the Union Home Ministry, state security advisers, and the Indian Army.
The Congress president urged the immediate removal of the Manipur CM and called for a coordinated crackdown on insurgent groups, with the involvement of state forces. He also pushed for the expedited investigation of the ethnic violence under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
Kharge’s comments were echoed by Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, who also criticized the Centre for its failure to control the violence. Venugopal highlighted the use of sophisticated weaponry like rocket launchers, stating that the Centre’s hands-off approach to the conflict is dangerous.
Both leaders questioned the government’s commitment to restoring peace in Manipur, accusing Modi of ignoring the state’s suffering while focusing on international matters.