Congress dares PM Narendra Modi to campaign in strife-torn Manipur

IMPHAL: Manipur Congress president K Meghachandra has dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to campaign in Manipur for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Manipur Congress chief K Meghachandra criticized PM Narendra Modi’s remarks on the Manipur issue, alleging that the Prime Minister is not adequately addressing the ongoing violence in the strife-torn Northeast state.

Meghachandra rebuked the PM Modi’s assertion that the Centre’s timely intervention had brought relief to Manipur, stating that the situation in the state has not fully normalized.

Speaking to the media at the Congress Bhawan in Imphal city of Manipur on Tuesday (April 09), K Meghachandra, who also serves as a sitting Congress MLA, emphasized that peace has not been fully restored in Manipur, contrary to the PM's claim.

In an interview to The Assam Tribune, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that timely intervention by both the central and Manipur governments had significantly improved the situation in the strife-torn state.

Also read: Timely intervention improved situation in violence-hit Manipur: PM Narendra Modi

However, the Manipur Congress president highlighted the ethnic violence that erupted on May 03 last year, between Kukis and Meiteis, stating that residents of the hills (the Kukis) are unable to travel to the plains, and vice versa.

Meghachandra criticized the PM's statement as an attempt to save face and gain political advantage ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled to commence on April 19.

He questioned why the Prime Minister had not visited Manipur for election campaigns, asserting that the invitation was extended to him.

Furthermore, Meghachandra expressed disappointment in the PM's perceived lack of seriousness regarding the Manipur issue, noting that the Congress is fielding candidates for both the Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur parliamentary constituencies, which are scheduled for April 19 and April 26, respectively.

Despite this, the BJP is contesting the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat and supporting the Naga People's Front (NPF) candidate in the Outer Manipur seat.