NEW DELHI, April 3: The Congress on Thursday accused the government of “bulldozing” in the Lok Sabha the statutory resolution confirming the imposition of President’s rule in Manipur, calling it “adding insult to injury.” Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh criticized the move, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s priorities.

Taking a swipe at the prime minister, Ramesh commented on social media, “The frequent flier flies off again. This time it is to Bangkok. Look East by all means, but why continue to ignore Manipur?” He also accused the government of rushing the resolution through the Lok Sabha at 2 AM, allowing just an hour for debate and discussion.

The Lok Sabha early Thursday adopted a statutory resolution confirming President’s rule in Manipur, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah defending the government’s approach, stating that all possible measures have been taken to restore normalcy in the northeastern state. Shah asserted that no violence has occurred in Manipur in the last four months and that discussions were ongoing with both the Meitei and Kuki communities to find a peaceful resolution.

“By and large, the situation is peaceful. As long as people are in camps, I would not say the situation is satisfactory. The government is taking all possible steps to restore peace in Manipur,” Shah said. He attributed the ethnic violence to a Manipur High Court order, emphasizing that the central government responded swiftly by deploying forces via air transport.

Shah detailed the extent of the violence, stating that 260 people have died since the unrest began in May 2023, with 80 percent of casualties occurring in the first month. He compared the recent violence to previous ethnic conflicts in the state, noting clashes between the Naga and Kuki communities in the 1990s that resulted in 750 deaths over five years. He also recalled the Kuki-Paite clashes of 1997-98, which claimed 352 lives, and the Meitei-Pangal clashes in the 1990s, which resulted in over 100 deaths.

“Sporadic violence continued for a decade, and neither the then prime minister nor the then home minister visited Manipur,” Shah said, countering the narrative that violence in Manipur is unique to the BJP’s tenure.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, participating in the debate, supported the resolution but emphasized the need for peace and stability in the state. “End insurgency, restore peace and stability, promote dialogue with each other, promote inclusivity,” he urged.

The resolution, titled “Consideration on the Proclamation issued by the President on the 13th February 2025 under article 356 (1) of the Constitution in relation to the State of Manipur,” was adopted by the Lok Sabha through a voice vote.