PM’s ‘3-hr visit’ will be an insult to people of Manipur: Congress

The Congress on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speculated visit to strife-torn Manipur on September 13, saying a “rushed trip” would be an “insult” to the people of the state, who have been waiting for him for 29 “agonising” months.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Modi’s purported visit to Manipur will actually be a “non-visit” by the PM. “The PM’s proposed visit to Manipur on September 13 is being hailed by his cheerleaders. But it appears that he will be spending only around three hours in the state. What does he hope to accomplish by such a rushed trip?” Ramesh asked in a post on X.

“September 13 will actually be a non-visit by the PM, who has once again revealed his callousness and insensitivity towards the people of Manipur,” Ramesh said.

He also shared a media report on X which claimed that Modi would be in Manipur for about three hours. The Prime Minister is likely to visit Manipur on September 13, although it has not been confirmed officially.

If the visit does take place, then it will be his first to the state, which has been affected by ethnic violence since May 2023. More than 200 people have been killed in related incidents, while 60,000 have been displaced. The Centre had imposed President’s rule in Manipur on February 13 after Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned. The state Assembly, which has a tenure till 2027, has been under suspended animation since then.