Congress Party President Mallikarjun Kharge wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday and expressed deep concerns over the prevailing situation in Manipur. He also urged the central government to take immediate and decisive action to reinstate democracy and the rule of law in the northeastern state.
In the letter, Kharge criticised the continued silence and inaction of the Prime Minister, labelling it an injustice to the people of Manipur. ''I write to you on a matter of very grave concern. It has been almost nine months since Manipur erupted in violence, and the situation has only turned from bad to worse,'' the Congress chief claimed in the letter.
Kharge also highlighted recent developments in the northeastern state, noting that on January 24, a meeting was convened of ministers, MPs, and MLAs in the historical Kangla Fort in Imphal, which is heavily guarded by central and state security forces. Many members present in the meeting were compelled and coerced to attend this meeting by an armed group, he said.
''Not only that, the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee President and MLA from Wangkhem, Keisham Meghachandra, was brutally assaulted and tortured during this meeting,'' Kharge said. He also stated that this shocking incident has happened despite the heavy presence of central and security forces and intelligence personnel.
The Congress leader also asserted that, till date, there has been no action from Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the home ministry on this very disturbing subversion of democratic processes by a non-state actor. ''It is shameful that the prime minister's eloquent silence when it comes to Manipur seems to be the prevailing strategy from all important stakeholders in both the state and the Centre,'' Kharge alleged.
In the letter, Kharge also shed light on his visit to Manipur on January 14 for the inaugural rally of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. ''My experience was similar to what Rahul Gandhi noted in his previous visit to Manipur on 29th and 30th June, 2023 and recently again during the yatra that the Manipuri society remains bitterly divided and no concrete steps have been taken towards peace, relief and justice for those still suffering from the aftermath of the violence in the state since May 3 2023,'' he said.
The Congress chief stated that all these events point to a ''complete collapse'' of the administration in Manipur. ''The continuing silence and inaction of the prime minister is an injustice to the people of Manipur,'' he said.
Kharge also said that Manipur is an integral part of our country. ''Our nation has just celebrated the 75th Republic Day. Manipur is an integral part of our Republic and I urge you to take urgent action to ensure that democracy and the rule of law prevails once more in a very important and valued part of our wonderfully diverse country,'' he said.