New Delhi: The Congress on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting violence-hit Manipur and accused him of "abandoning" the state at a time when his intervention was needed the most.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that PM Modi could not "escape accountability and responsibility by completely ignoring the crisis".
On the 175th day of violence in Manipur, Ramesh posted a set of 5 questions for PM Modi on X.
"The people of Manipur and the entire Northeast are closely watching how the prime minister has abandoned the state of Manipur at a time when his intervention and outreach were needed the most," Ramesh said in a video message shared on X.
"He cannot escape accountability and responsibility by completely ignoring the crisis," the Congress leader said.
He questioned why the prime minister has not met the chief minister of Manipur and elected MLAs of the state, a large majority of whom belong to his party or are its allies.
"Why has the PM who pontificates on all subjects not seen it fit to speak on Manipur publicly for more than 4-5 minutes at most, that too in a routine manner and after immense pressure from the Opposition? "Why has the PM who loves to travel at the drop of a hat not seen it fit to spend even a few hours in Manipur to show his concern," the Congress MP asked.
"Why is the CM who is so thoroughly discredited across sections of Manipur's society still being allowed to continue," Ramesh also asked.
He also criticised PM Modi for publicly addressing the situation in Manipur only for a few minutes.
"Why has the PM who pontificates on all subjects not seen it fit to speak on Manipur publicly for more than 4-5 minutes at most, that too in a routine manner and after immense pressure from the Opposition?" he wrote.
The Congress has been critical of the Modi government's handling of the Manipur crisis. The opposition party has also been demanding the sacking of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, accusing him of not being able to control the situation.
More than 175 people have been killed and several others were injured since ethnic clashes broke out in the northeastern state on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.