IMPHAL, Nov 22: BJP President J.P. Nadda has accused the Congress of propagating a politically motivated and false narrative regarding the ongoing unrest in Manipur. Responding to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s letter to President Droupadi Murmu seeking intervention in the crisis, Nadda claimed that the repercussions of Congress’s “abject failure” during its tenure were still being felt today.
In a statement, Nadda expressed his shock at the Congress’s attempts to sensationalise the situation in Manipur. “What is shocking is how repeated attempts are being made by the Congress party to sensationalise the situation in Manipur,” he said. He also accused the Congress, during its time in power, of legitimising the illegal migration of foreign militants into India, alleging that the then Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, had signed treaties with militants fleeing their countries. Nadda claimed that these militant leaders were endorsed by the Congress to carry out destabilising efforts, which contributed to the current unrest in Manipur.
Nadda further argued that the Congress’s failure to uphold security and administrative protocols was a key reason for the present situation. “This complete failure of India’s security and administrative protocols under your government is one of the major reasons why militant and habitually violent organisations are attempting to destroy the hard-won peace in Manipur,” he stated. He assured that the BJP-led NDA government would not allow such destabilisation to occur, adding that both the central and state governments were working to restore peace and harmony. Nadda also highlighted that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was investigating the violence.
In his critique, Nadda pointed to the Congress’s mishandling of similar incidents in the 1990s and during the UPA era, including widespread violence and blockades. He also praised the transformation of the North-East region under the Modi government, citing improvements in sectors like economy, healthcare, education, and security. Nadda mentioned that Manipur had seen a significant reduction in multidimensional poverty, from over 20% in 2013 to just over 5% in 2022. He accused the Congress of exploiting the North-East for political gain and disregarding these positive developments. He also referred to the 2011 blockade in Manipur under Congress rule, which lasted over 120 days and caused significant economic losses.
Nadda further alleged that the Congress had often aligned with foreign forces seeking to destabilise India. “This pattern of Congress leaders endorsing and encouraging a nexus of foreign forces looking to derail India’s progress is truly worrying,” he said.
In response, the Congress party hit back at Nadda’s accusations, calling them a “politically motivated narrative.” Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh condemned Nadda’s statement in a post on X, labelling it a “4D exercise – denial, distortion, distraction, and defamation.” Ramesh criticized the BJP for diverting attention from the real issues in Manipur and accused the party of using the unrest for political gain.
Ramesh emphasized that the people of Manipur were desperate for peace and stability and raised several questions: “When will the PM visit the state? How much longer will the CM continue to hold power when a majority of MLAs no longer support him? When will a full-time Governor be appointed? And when will the Union Home Minister take responsibility for his failures?”
The ethnic violence in Manipur, which erupted in May 2023 between the Meitei community and the Kuki-Zo groups, has claimed over 220 lives and displaced thousands. The Congress continues to criticise the BJP-led government’s handling of the crisis, while the BJP maintains that it is addressing the situation appropriately.
