Fresh violence in Manipur has triggered a heated political confrontation between the BJP and Congress, with both parties blaming each other for the ongoing crisis. BJP president JP Nadda accused Congress of spreading a “false, politically motivated” narrative regarding the unrest in the state. His comments came shortly after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking her intervention and criticizing the Centre’s failure to address the issue.
In his response, Nadda pointed out that the current situation in Manipur is a result of Congress’ “abject failure” to manage local issues during its tenure in power. He expressed disbelief at Congress’ continued efforts to sensationalize the situation.
“What is shocking is how repeated attempts are being made by the Congress party to sensationalise the situation in Manipur,” Nadda said in a letter to Kharge.
The BJP chief also raised concerns about Congress leaders allegedly fostering a “nexus of foreign forces” to undermine India’s progress. He questioned whether this is due to Congress’ desperation for power or part of a broader strategy to divide the people and weaken democracy.
Nadda reminded Kharge that under Congress rule, illegal migration by foreign militants had been legitimized, and cited the bloody history of violence in Manipur under the party’s governance. He recalled the period of violence in the 1990s, when thousands were killed and many displaced, as well as the 120-day blockade in 2011.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nadda claimed that the Northeast region has seen significant improvement in sectors such as the economy, security, healthcare, education, and overall growth. He pointed to the trust shown by the people of the region in the stability provided by the NDA government, contrasting this with Congress’ broken promises. He also highlighted the government’s success in facilitating peace accords and improving connectivity in the region.
In Manipur, Nadda noted, the percentage of people living in multidimensional poverty has dropped from over 20% in 2013 to just over 5% in 2022.
In his letter to the President, Kharge had described the Union and state governments’ failure to restore peace in Manipur over the last 18 months. He claimed that the violence had claimed over 300 lives, including women and children, and displaced nearly 100,000 people into relief camps.
“The deteriorating law and order in Manipur has internally displaced nearly a lakh of people, forcing them to live in different relief camps,” Kharge wrote, emphasizing that the suffering continues unabated .
