BJP, Congress Trade Barbs Over Fresh Spate Of Violence In Manipur

The recent violence in Manipur has led to a political clash between the BJP and Congress, with both parties blaming each other for the ongoing crisis in the state.

BJP president JP Nadda accused Congress of spreading an "incorrect, false and politically" motivated narrative regarding the unrest in Manipur on Friday.

His remarks came just hours after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge called for President Droupadi Murmu's intervention and criticised the Centre for its complete failure to resolve the crisis.

In his response, Nadda pointed out that the current turmoil in Manipur was a result of Congress' "abject failure" in addressing local issues during its time in power. He expressed surprise at the party's ongoing attempts to sensationalise the situation in the state.

"What is shocking is how repeated attempts are being made by the Congress party to sensationalise the situation in Manipur," Nadda wrote in a letter to Kharge.

The BJP leader also expressed concern over the Congress party's apparent support for a "nexus of foreign forces" aiming to disrupt India's progress, questioning whether this failure was an unfortunate oversight driven by Congress' hunger for power or part of a deliberate strategy to divide the people and undermine democracy.

Nadda reminded Congress that under its governance, the illegal migration of foreign militants into India had been legitimised. "I wish to remind you that under Congress rule, Manipur witnessed one of the bloodiest periods in history.

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," he wrote.

Under the Narendra Modi government, Nadda argued, the Northeast had seen significant improvements in sectors such as the economy, security, healthcare, education, and growth opportunities.

He highlighted that people in the region had repeatedly shown their trust in the stability offered by the NDA government, contrasting it with the false promises made by Congress and its allies.

He pointed to various achievements, including over 10 historic peace accords and enhanced connectivity, which had brought the people of the Northeast closer together. In Manipur, he noted, the percentage of people living in multidimensional poverty had decreased from more than 20% in 2013 to just over 5% in 2022.

Kharge's letter to the President accused both the Union and state governments of "completely failing" to restore peace in Manipur over the past 18 months and called for presidential intervention. He claimed that the violence had led to over 300 deaths, including women, children, and infants, and displaced nearly 100,000 people, leaving them in relief camps.

"The deteriorating law and order in Manipur has internally displaced nearly a lakh of human population, rendering them homeless and forcing them to live in different relief camps," Kharge stated, adding that the suffering continues without relief.