Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the imposition of President’s rule in Manipur. Kharge argued that the suspension of the state’s government, which was led by the BJP, served as a direct acknowledgment of the government’s failure to meet the needs of the people of Manipur.
In a post on social media platform X, Kharge described the imposition of President’s rule as a constitutional crisis, suggesting that the BJP’s MLAs were unwilling to take responsibility for the government’s failures. He emphasized that despite having ruled at the center for 11 years and in Manipur for 8 years, the BJP had failed to maintain law and order in the state, leading to the current political turmoil.
“It is your party that has been ruling at the Centre for 11 years. It is your party that was ruling Manipur for 8 years. It is the BJP that was responsible for maintaining law and order in the state. It is your government that is responsible for national security and border patrol,” Kharge wrote.
He further accused the Modi government of imposing President’s rule not out of necessity but because the situation in the state had reached a crisis point. “The imposition of President’s rule by you, suspending your own party’s government, is a direct admission of how you failed the people of Manipur,” the Congress leader added.
Kharge also took a jibe at the BJP’s “double engine” governance—referring to BJP’s rule at both the Centre and in Manipur—saying, “Your double engine ran over the lives of the innocent people of Manipur!”
The Congress President also called on the Prime Minister to address the trauma of the people in Manipur. “High time you now step in Manipur and listen to the pain and trauma of the suffering people and apologise to them. Do you have the courage of conviction?” Kharge questioned.
He added that the people of Manipur would not forgive the BJP or Prime Minister Modi for their failure in handling the situation.
The political instability in Manipur, fueled by ongoing ethnic violence, led to the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on February 9, 2025, after nearly two years of unrest. The violence, primarily between the Meitei community and the Kuki-Zomi tribes, stemmed from disputes over land rights, job quotas, and economic benefits. These tensions resulted in hundreds of deaths and left approximately 60,000 people displaced.
In response to the growing unrest, President Droupadi Murmu imposed President’s rule in the state on Thursday, after receiving a report from the Governor. The move means that the central government will take over governance for up to six months, during which time elections may be held to form a new assembly.
Security in Imphal, the state capital, was heightened following the imposition of President’s rule, as the region continues to grapple with ethnic violence and instability.
