PM Modi’s Manipur visit ‘tokenism’, ‘grave insult’ to people of state: Congress

Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Manipur a “pit stop”, the Congress on Saturday alleged that the trip is “tokenism” and a “grave insult” to the people of the state.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused Modi of organising a grand welcome ceremony for himself and claimed that it “is a cruel prick” to the wounds of those still suffering.

“In the words of your own... Where is your Rajdharma?” Kharge asked on X just before the start of Modi’s Manipur visit.

“Narendra Modi ji, 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!” the Congress chief said in his post on X.

“864 days of violence:-- 300 lives lost, 67,000 displaced, 1,500 plus injured. You made 46 foreign trips since, but not a single visit to share two words of sympathy with your own citizens,” Kharge said.

“Your last visit to Manipur? January 2022 — for elections! Your ‘Double Engine’ has bulldozed the innocent lives of Manipur. You and Home Minister Amit Shah’s gross incompetence and complicity in betraying all communities was shielded from scrutiny, by imposing President’s Rule in the state. Violence still continues,” he said.

It is the BJP which was responsible for maintaining law and order in the state and it is now the Union government which is again dithering, he claimed.

“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. You are organising 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!” Kharge said.

Speaking with reporters in Wayanad, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also hit out at the PM and said he should have visited the state long before.

“I am glad that he has decided, after two years, that it is worth visiting (Manipur). He should have gone long before. It is very unfortunate that he has allowed what is happening there to continue for so long and for so many people to be killed. That has not been the tradition of prime ministers in India,” she said.