Nadda's sharp rebuttal to Kharge over Manipur violence, highlights BJP's peace efforts

In a sharp response to an earlier letter by Mallikarjun Kharge to President Droupadi Murmu demanding her intervention in strife-torn Manipur, BJP chief JP Nadda on Friday wrote to his Congress counterpart, blaming "the policies of the erstwhile Congress government at the Centre for disturbance of peace in the northeastern state".

While reiterating the ruling BJP's commitment to restore peace and normalcy to the state where, he said, "NIA, the most efficient agency, had been deployed to solve recent events of brutal violence," Nadda said, "the past Congress government legitimised the entry of foreign militants into India causing the problem".

"What is shocking is how repeated attempts are being made by the Congress party to sensationalise the situation in Manipur. It appears that you have forgotten that not only did your government legitimise the illegal migration of foreign militants to India, P Chidambaram the erstwhile Home Minister-had signed treaties with them. Furthermore, these known militant leaders fleeing their country to avoid arrest were wholeheartedly endorsed and encouraged to carry on their destabilising efforts. 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 and push it back several decades into the age of Anarchy," Nadda said in his letter to Kharge.

The BJP chief said  unlike the Congress, the BJP government would not allow peace to be disturbed at any cost.

"A pattern of Congress leaders endorsing and encouraging a nexus of foreign forces looking to derail India's progress is truly worrying. As a result of this failure to recognise the maleficent intentions of these individuals, your party is often seen matching them step-for-step."

Nadda asked Kharge whether this failure was an unfortunate blind spot resulting from Congress' thirst for power or part of a carefully designed strategy to divide the people and sideline our democracy, is what our nation deserves to know.

Rejecting as incorrect, false and politically motivated the Congress narrative on Manipur, the BJP president flagged "complete failure of government machinery and the ill-advised strategies adopted by Congress governments - both at the centre and state - during similar incidents in Manipur in the early 90s and during the UPA era."

"I bring your party's infamous neglect of critical local issues to your notice because the repercussions of the Congress' abject failure are being felt in Manipur even today," Nadda said adding that in 10 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Northeast region has witnessed a complete transformation in every sector - be it economy, security, healthcare, education or access to growth opportunities. "

"From more than 10 historical peace accords to unprecedented connectivity, our governments are truly bringing the people of Northeast closer. It is notable that in Manipur alone, the percentage of people suffering from Multidimensional poverty has reduced from over 20% in 2013 to just over 5% in 2022. Yet, ignoring these developments you and your party have chosen to use the Northeast and its people to rake-up political mileage and peddle your nefarious agendas," Nadda added noting that under the Congress rule, Manipur witnessed one of the bloodiest periods in history.

He said in addition to the black period of the 90s when thousands were killed and lakhs displaced due to rampant violence, in 2011 alone Manipur witnessed a complete blockade for more than 120 days.

"It was during this time that the Congress government failed to even escalate the issue to appropriate levels at the centre while the State administration engaged in thousands of fake encounters. In contrast, with the first incidence of violence that was reported, our government - both at the Centre as well as state - was immediately working to stabilise the situation and protect the people," the BJP chief said in his first comments on the current escalation of violence in Manipur.

He also mentioned that the entire focus of the BJP government has been on maintaining law and order and bringing normalcy to the state.

"From resources to personnel and provisions - the entire government machinery is devoted to bringing back peace and harmony to Manipur. Our commitment to resolving the situation as soon as possible is evident when you consider that investigations into the incidents are being carried out by the NIA, the one of the most efficient agencies in the country," he added.