The Congress on Wednesday, launched a sharp attack on the BJP, following the fresh violence in Manipur that killed nine people on Wednesday. The Congress said that the BJP's claim regarding 'double-engine governance' had fallen flat on its face as the party has failed to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the measures announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah were "too little and too late" and failed to deliver on the ground. He also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he has remained a "mute spectator" so far. "Modiji has not even had the time to chair a meeting on Manipur," Kharge said.
He further accused Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and the RSS of allying with insurgents. Citing media reports, Kharge said: " Is it [failure to restore peace in Manipur] because the BJP intends to widen the fissures between ethnic groups for its cheap political gains? News reports of NDA's NEDA [North-East Democratic Alliance] chairman and Assam CM and RSS's national executive member taking the help of insurgent groups to fight previous Elections are clearly saying so."
At least nine villagers were killed and 10 others injured when suspected militants attacked Khamelock village in Imphal East district and fired indiscriminately on Tuesday night, police said, in the latest case of violence from the state which has been rocked by violence after major ethnic clashes erupted in May.
The victims were either sleeping or just finished their dinner when the extremists rained bullets from their sophisticated arms. The injured were immediately taken to various hospitals. The toll is likely to increase as the condition of several of the wounded is stated to be critical, the news agency said.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a dig at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying that he had "outsourced" his job to Himanta Biswa Sarma. "The agony of the people of Manipur continues unabated. Their agony is the nation's pain but clearly not the PM’s - he continues to maintain silence. HM's belated visit and outsourced interventions to Assam CM are not having any significant impact," he said.
Manipur MLA and president of the Pradesh Congress Committee Keisham Meghachandra called the violence a "genocide". He too accused the BJP governments at the Centre and state of brokering an understanding with local militia groups. "The present crisis is the outcome of the Double Engine BJP govts which have closed ties and understanding with the armed militia groups. This genocide in Manipur is due to the BJP govt. & its administration," Meghachandra tweeted.
The militants, who launched the attack on Tuesday, were armed with sophisticated weapons. They surrounded the villagers of the Khamelok area bordering Imphal East district and Kangpoki district and launched the attack at around 1 am, the police said.