Congress has sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Manipur, calling it a “pit stop,” “tokenism,” and a “grave insult” to the people of the state.
The visit marks Modi’s first trip to Manipur since ethnic violence erupted in May 2023.
Modi arrived in Manipur on Saturday afternoon and is scheduled to visit Kuki-dominated Churachandpur and Meitei-majority Imphal. He plans to meet internally displaced people and inaugurate development projects worth Rs 8,500 crore. Despite these engagements, Congress leaders have accused him of ignoring the crisis for too long.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took to X to criticise Modi’s visit. “Narendra Modi ji, your 3-hour pit stop in Manipur is not compassion. It's farce, tokenism, and a grave insult to wounded people. Your so-called roadshow in Imphal and Churachandpur today, is nothing but a cowardly escape from hearing the cries of people in relief camps!” he wrote.
Kharge also highlighted the scale of the crisis: “864 days of violence:-- 300 lives lost, 67,000 displaced, 1,500 plus injured. You made 46 foreign trips since, but not a single visit to share two words of sympathy with your own citizens.”
He further criticised the BJP’s governance, saying, “Your last visit to Manipur? January 2022 - for elections! Your 'Double Engine' has bulldozed the innocent lives of Manipur. You and Home Minister Amit Shah's gross incompetence and complicity in betraying all communities was shielded from scrutiny, by imposing President's Rule in the state. Violence still continues.”
Kharge accused the Union government of failing its constitutional responsibilities. “Not to forget, that is your government which is responsible for National Security and border patrol. This hush-hush pit stop isn't repentance. It's not even guilt. You are organising a grand welcome ceremony for yourself. It is a cruel prick to the wounds of those still suffering because of your own abdication of basic constitutional responsibilities.”
He concluded with a pointed question: “In the words of your own... Where is your Rajdharma?”
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed disappointment, saying she was glad that the prime minister had finally decided, after two years, that visiting Manipur was worthwhile. She added that he should have gone much earlier and called it very unfortunate that he allowed the situation to persist for so long, resulting in the deaths of many people—something she said was not in keeping with the tradition of Indian prime ministers. She made these remarks while speaking in her Lok Sabha constituency of Wayanad.
The violence in Manipur stems from tensions between the valley-dominant Meitei community and the hill-dwelling Kuki tribes. The Meiteis seek inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category, while the Kukis demand a separate administration, citing discrimination and unequal distribution of power and resources. Over 260 people have died, and thousands have been displaced since the unrest began.