"PM Modi's assurance to people of Manipur in Parliament reverberates hollow": Mallikarjun Kharge
Feb 05, 2024
New Delhi [India], February 5 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur, despite ongoing violence in the state for months, and said that the Prime Minister's assurance to the people of Manipur in August 2023, in the Parliament reverberates hollow.
Taking to X, Kharge posted, "It has been 9 months since the unabated violence has devastated innumerable lives in Manipur, but PM Modi hasn't had an hour to visit the state. Why? He last visited Manipur in Feb 2022, only to campaign for elections, and now has left the people of Manipur to fend for themselves."
The Congress President alleged that various people continue to suffer due to inadequate medical facilities and food in the relief camps.
"More than 200 people have died since May 4, 2023. 60,000 people have been displaced. Around 50,000 people continue to languish in relief camps in despicable conditions without adequate medical facilities and food," Kharge posted on X.
"People have already lost everything -- their homes, their livelihoods and their belongings. They can't go anywhere. Their future is bleak. According to some reports, over 80 people have died in camps in Churachandpur alone, due to trauma, malnutrition and illness. The Imphal camps are no better," he added.
Kharge also highlighted the death toll due to renewed violence in the state, since January 1, 2024.
"Whatever help is being provided in camps has come from collective efforts of good samaritans, NGOs, and not the State Govt. Women and children are suffering because of complete apathy and neglect shown by the BJP. Since January 1 itself, 10 people have died in renewed violence. Police trainees of two communities are shooting at each other. 7 have been injured," the Congress President said.
"On January 24, we witnessed, how an armed group coerced MPs/MLAs to attend a meeting at the heavily guarded Kangla Fort where the Indian National Congress, Manipur President was brutally assaulted and tortured," he added.
Criticizing the BJP's double-engine government, Kharge posted, "PM Modi's assurance to the people of Manipur in August 2023, in the Parliament reverberates hollow! There is no normalcy and peace in sight. BJP's 'Double Engine' Govt has dealt several blows to the people of Manipur!"
Manipur has been witnessing ethnic strife between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo tribal community since May 2023.
