Explainer: PM Modi’s Russia visit sparks Congress-BJP showdown on Manipur

Vibha Sharma

Chandigarh, July 8

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Manipur has drawn sharp reactions from BJP that has accused him of “trying to add fuel instead of assuaging people’s hurt sentiments and feelings”. On the other hand, the Congress slammed PM Modi for not making the long-due trip to Manipur but visiting Russia.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, who called the violence in Manipur a “legacy” of the Congress, also accused the newly installed Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha of indulging in “sick tragedy tourism”.

“The ethnic conflict in Manipur is a legacy of the Congress party. The state has witnessed the killing of civilians, police and Army personnel for decades, while the Congress was in power,” said Malviya.

Congress slams PM Modi for not paying visit to Manipur

The Congress, meanwhile, slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his visit to Russia and not making a trip to Manipur since the ethnic violence broke out there.

“Today, the non-biological PM goes to Moscow while the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha heads for Assam and Manipur. Of course, the drum beaters of the non-biological PM have claimed that he stopped the Russia-Ukraine war for some time. Presumably, this Moscow trip will lead to even more bizarre claims,” said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

Rahul Gandhi’s trip to northeast

In his visit to the northeast, Gandhi first met flood-affected people and displaced Kuki-Zo members in BJP-ruled Assam before heading to neighbouring Manipur where he interacted with people affected by the year-long ethnic violence.

Gandhi said that the flood situation in Assam “reflected the gross and grave mismanagement by BJP’s double-engine government”.

In the first session of the new Lok Sabha, the Congress leaders highlighted the ethnic conflict in Manipur in both Houses of Parliament. Though the party has been raising the issue repeatedly, Gandhi’s visit to the northeast coincides with PM Modi travelling to Russia. As per observers, one of the aims is also to put pressure on the ruling BJP.

“The aim of Gandhi’s visit to the northeast as the Leader of Opposition is also to send the message that it is high time PM Modi also visited the troubled state, suffering due to the ethnic conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zomi communities since May last year,” they added.

Manipur: Congress vs BJP

Notably, while initiating the debate on behalf of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks for the President’s address last week, Gandhi accused the ruling BJP of pushing Manipur into a “civil war” and criticised PM Modi for not visiting the state since ethnic violence broke out there.

Replying to the debate in the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi said the Centre was working with the state government and others to restore normalcy in Manipur, adding that more than 500 persons had been arrested and over 11,000 FIRs registered in the state.

Manipur plunged into violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in May last year. According to reports hundreds were killed and thousands displaced following large-scale arson, gutting homes and government buildings.