'Shows His Insincerity': Assam TMC Chief Hits Out At PM Modi Over '2-Minute' Speech On Manipur

TMC spokesperson said that the PM spoke briefly for two minutes on Manipur violence during his two-hour thirteen-minute speech which proves his ignorance on the burning issues of the state.

TMC spokesperson cited PM's brief mention of Manipur violence in a lengthy speech as proof of unfamiliarity with state's urgent issues.

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech in Parliament on the no-confidence motion raised against his government by the opposition parties, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Assam unit chief Ripun Bora on Friday slammed Prime Minister Modi for his “brief speech” on Manipur’s burning issue.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, the TMC national spokesperson said that the Prime Minister spoke briefly for two minutes on Manipur violence during his two-hour thirteen-minute speech which proves his ignorance on the burning issues of the state.

The former Rajya Sabha member said, “Prime Minister Modi spoke on Manipur for only two minutes during his speech and spent the rest of the time criticising the opposition parties. He is insincere towards Manipur and the rest of the Northeastern states.”

“Prime Minister Modi wearing an Assamese and Manipuri traditional stawl is nothing but a drama to appease the people of these states. Though the Prime Minister boasted of BJP's good governance by thumping a 56-inch chest, his MPs kept on laughing and clapping during his speech in the Parliament," Bora said.

Bora questioned the Prime Minister on his reluctance in visiting the violence-hit state or sending his cabinet colleagues to the state. Modi boasts of visiting the Northeastern region 96 times but is now shying away from visiting Manipur at this hour of crisis.

Bora also condemned the Prime Minister for his false narrative on the opposition’s alliance ‘INDIA’.

He also blamed the BJP-led central government for being involved in fuelling violence in Manipur.

As his government won the motion of no-confidence despite the Opposition's walkout, PM Modi assured the people of Manipur that India and Parliament were with them and that the State and Central governments were putting all efforts to restore peace and development to the State.

After the Opposition walkout, the Prime Minister said of Manipur, "The violence in Manipur is saddening. Crimes against women are unacceptable, and the federal and state governments are working together to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. We want to reassure our mothers and daughters in Manipur that this country and this House are behind them."

He assured the people of India that the state's peace and development would be restored soon. "Dard ko samajh kar, dard ki dawaa ban kar saath chalein, [let us understand the pain and become the medicine to heal together]," he said.

However, while speaking of providing a healing touch to the people of Manipur, Modi stated that many of the problems that had flared up in the State were not of recent origin, but rather a legacy of the previous Congress governments that had administered the State.