Imphal, September 8: Former Manipur Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Okram Ibobi Singh on Monday condemned the Governor of Manipur for holding a meeting exclusively with BJP MLAs ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to the violence-hit state on September 13.

Speaking to reporters from his official residence, Ibobi termed the Governor’s move a “blatant lowering of the sanctity of Raj Bhavan,” accusing him of ignoring the voices of elected opposition representatives. “The selective invitation undermines democratic norms,” Ibobi said. “If the meeting was meant to address the violence, excluding opposition MLAs is an affront to the people of Manipur. Raj Bhavan must remain above politics,” he added.

Ibobi’s comments come in the wake of renewed public scrutiny over the state’s handling of the prolonged ethnic violence and law-and-order crisis that erupted in May 2023. The conflict has claimed over 260 lives and displaced thousands, with tensions persisting between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.

The Congress veteran also criticised the BJP-led governments at both the state and central levels for their mismanagement of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with Kuki insurgent groups. Ibobi reminded that the agreement was originally signed during his government in 2008, but has since been violated repeatedly without consequence.

“Instead of acting on resolutions passed for abrogation of SoO for two militant groups, the Centre allowed them to operate freely, leaving local communities vulnerable,” he stated.

On PM Modi’s scheduled visit, Ibobi issued a stern warning: a brief two-to-three-hour stopover, without meaningful engagement or concrete policy announcements, would be perceived as mere tokenism.

“The PM seems to believe he can pacify Manipur with a cursory visit, but the people cannot tolerate gestures without action. Manipur deserves meaningful engagement, not symbolic appearances,” he remarked.

Senior Congress leaders including AICC CWC member Gaikhangam, MLAs K. Lokeshwar and Surjakumar Okram, former MLA Kh. Loken, and others were present at the press conference.

Ibobi concluded by saying that the Governor’s “partisan conduct” and the Centre’s “failure to enforce critical agreements” have eroded public trust and further destabilized the situation in Manipur.

“Ignoring elected representatives and failing to enforce agreements that protect citizens undermines the credibility of both Raj Bhavan and the Central government,” he warned.