Congress: What is stopping Prime Minister Modi to give a peace call for Manipur?

The General Secretary (Organization) of All Indian Congress Committee (AICC), KC Venugopal, has questioned the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for his continued silence on Manipur burning issue even after more than two months, and asked Modi what matter was stopping him to give a peace call for the Northeastern state.

The General Secretary was briefing the media after the Central Congress leaders had a meeting with the leaders of Northeastern states on Saturday at New Delhi.

The inaction and silence of the Prime Minister Modi and the BJP government on the situation in Manipur is ‘unexplainable’, ‘unforgivable’ and ‘criminal’, Venugopal said. “At least the BJP has to explain why the Prime Minister is silent on these things. Why is he not in a position to give a peace call? What is stopping him? If there is any reason, please, explain to the nation,” he asked.

The Congress party alleged that the Government of India has abdicated its responsibility to the people of Manipur, in particular and the whole North East, in general.

The Party Secretary also informed that the Congress had a four-hours long meeting on election preparations of the Northeastern states (except Mizoram), during which there was a discussion on the situation of Manipur and the members took a silent prayer for nearly 150 innocent people of Manipur who died in the ‘manufactured violence’.

Venugopal said that the leaders of Congress party from the entire Northeast under the leadership of the President, AICC, Mallikarjun Kharge, unanimously expressed grave concern situation in Manipur and underlined the support and empathy with the people in Manipur for maintaining peace. “The entire Congress party stands in solidarity with them and that the party, especially all the North East Pradesh Congress Committees will continue to raise the voice of people of Manipur and demand quick resolution for ending the violence there,” he said.

The Union government should take strong and all necessary steps with sincerity for maintaining peace and harmony in the State, said Venugopal and added that the Congress party demands immediate ceasefire and restoration of peace. The party leaders present in the meeting also congratulated and expressed their sincere gratitude towards Rahul Gandhi for his visit and spreading the message of love, compassion and peace in Manipur in such time of turmoil.

The Congress party was also deeply concerned about the delimitation exercise being undertaken at such a time in Assam. Several political parties led by the Congress party have demanded a wider discussion on the same, it said.