New Delhi – The Congress party has launched a strong critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, holding him responsible for the prolonged violence and humanitarian crisis in Manipur. The state has been plagued by ethnic clashes since May 2023, leading to over 260 deaths, more than 1,500 injuries, and the displacement of around 70,000 people, reported the Siasat.
Despite the imposition of President’s Rule in February 2025 following Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s resignation, Congress contends that the situation on the ground remains unstable. The party is now demanding immediate fresh elections, arguing that only a renewed democratic mandate can restore stability and public trust in the region.
Congress President and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge took to social media to question the prime minister’s absence from Manipur throughout the two-year-long crisis. He highlighted that while Modi has travelled extensively across India and abroad, he has not found time to visit the strife-torn state. Kharge also criticized the delay in imposing President’s Rule and questioned the effectiveness of the peace committee and relief efforts.
Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka, who oversees party affairs in Manipur, described the crisis as one of the most severe humanitarian disasters in recent Indian history. He alleged that the BJP-led government only acted after Congress threatened a no-confidence motion, and that violence is still ongoing with recent clashes in Tamenglong district injuring 25 people.
Manipur Congress chief Keisham Meghachandra Singh echoed the sentiment, holding the BJP accountable for being the “architect” of the continuing unrest. He asserted that the constitutional machinery has collapsed and called for immediate elections under a neutral administration to revive democratic governance.
Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary, reminded the public that the BJP had won a decisive mandate in the 2022 state elections, yet ethnic violence erupted just a year later. He referred to the Supreme Court’s acknowledgment of administrative failure and criticized both Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their alleged lack of initiative in managing the crisis.
According to Ramesh, over 60,000 people remain displaced in relief camps, with no substantial reconciliation process underway. The Congress concluded by demanding the prime minister’s visit to the state, concrete peacebuilding efforts, and immediate elections to restore democratic order.
