Fresh Violence in Manipur Sparks Political Rift Between BJP and Congress
The recent surge in violence in Manipur has sparked a heated political confrontation between the BJP and Congress, with both parties holding each other responsible for the ongoing crisis. BJP President JP Nadda accused Congress of promoting a “false, politically motivated” narrative about the unrest. His comments came shortly after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, calling for her intervention and criticizing the Centre’s failure to act on the situation.
In his response, Nadda argued that the current situation in Manipur is a direct result of Congress’s “abject failure” to manage local issues during its time in power. He expressed astonishment at Congress’s continued efforts to sensationalize the unrest.
In a letter to Kharge, Nadda wrote, “It is truly astonishing how the Congress party continues to exaggerate the situation in Manipur.”
Nadda also raised concerns about Congress leaders allegedly enabling a “nexus of foreign forces” aimed at undermining India’s progress. He questioned whether this was driven by Congress’s desperation for power or part of a broader strategy to divide the nation and weaken its democracy.
The BJP chief reminded Kharge of the Congress government’s role in legitimizing illegal migration by foreign militants and highlighted the bloody history of violence in Manipur under the party’s rule. He pointed to the violent period of the 1990s, which saw thousands killed and many displaced, as well as the 120-day blockade in 2011.
Nadda emphasized that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Northeast has seen significant progress in key sectors such as the economy, security, healthcare, and education. He contrasted this development with Congress’s broken promises and pointed to the NDA government’s successful peace accords and enhanced regional connectivity.
In Manipur specifically, Nadda noted a significant reduction in poverty, with the percentage of people living in multidimensional poverty dropping from over 20% in 2013 to just over 5% in 2022.
In his letter to the President, Kharge voiced concern over the inability of both the Union and state governments to bring peace to Manipur over the past 18 months. He stated that the violence had claimed over 300 lives, including those of women and children, and displaced nearly 100,000 people into relief camps.
“The worsening law and order situation in Manipur has forced nearly a lakh of people into relief camps,” Kharge wrote, emphasizing that the suffering persists with no end in sight.
