New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre over the situation in violence-hit Manipur and alleged that the government’s 'Act East' policy has become an 'act least' policy, news agency PTI reported. He made the remarks at a meeting with the party leaders of six northeast states on Saturday. According to the report, the leaders from Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Sikkim voiced their concern over the situation in Manipur, that has been witnessing ethic clashes since early May.
Taking to Twitter, the Congress chief wrote, “The ‘Act East’ policy of Modi government has become the ‘Act Least’ policy for our Northeastern States! India, today is witnessing an onslaught of BJP's vicious politics of division and discord. Communities are being pitted against each other. Freedom of speech is under attack. Fundamental Rights are being questioned.”
“The solid foundation of peace, tranquillity and progress established by the successive Congress governments is being systematically dismantled,” he added.
The meeting, held to firm up the party’s strategy for the Lok Sabha elections next year, saw the presence of Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, AICC in-charge of Sikkim, Tripura and Nagaland Ajoy Kumar, AICC in-charge of Manipur Bhakta Charan Das, former Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and state unit chiefs of the six northeast states.
Sounding a clarion call for the party workers to stand united ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Kharge said, “It is time for every leader and worker of the Congress party to unite everyone. Unity in diversity is not only our hallmark but the basis of our existence. It is time to hit the ground running and start from the booth level. Reach out to people and strongly raise the voice of our fellow citizens in Northeast. No opposition can withstand the power of truth.”
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, party leader Venugopal said Kharge has instructed the leaders of northeastern states on how to fight the elections, how to work on the strategy and to organise the party at a bigger level in their respective states, reported PTI.
"We observed silence and also passed a resolution on Manipur," Venugopal said. The "inaction and silence" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government on the situation in Manipur are "unexplainable, unforgivable and criminal", Venugopal quoted from the resolution, as reported by PTI.