Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on October 21 for failing to stop the bloodshed in Manipur. The state remains locked in an ethnic conflict between valley-based Meitei and hill-based Kuki communities that started in May 2023. Violence hit again recently with the killing of four civilians. It is a grim situation.
Kharge took to X to voice his frustration. "Manipur is bleeding again because of BJP's incompetence! The horrific killing of four innocent civilians in the latest spate of violence is deeply condemnable. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families," he wrote. At least 306 people are dead. Another 49 individuals are missing. Thousands have been driven from their homes.
Life in the camps is harsh. Currently, 24,530 people live in relief settings. The Supreme Court previously flagged 31 unnatural deaths within these camps. Kharge demanded answers regarding the status of the Peace Committee formed by Shah in June 2023. He also asked for specific updates on the recommendations made by the Supreme Court-appointed committee led by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal.
Modi has not visited the state in nearly 29 months. Kharge questioned why this silence persists while the state suffers. "After more than three years, over 300 deaths, President's Rule and a change of Chief Minister, who will take responsibility for this monumental failure of governance? How many more innocent lives must be lost before the Prime Minister and Home Minister act?" Kharge asked. He insisted the government must prioritize the safety and rehabilitation of women and children over political games.
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