Congress Slams PM Modi’s Manipur Visit as ‘Tokenism’ and ‘Grave Insult’
New Delhi, September 13: The Congress party on Saturday strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s brief visit to Manipur, calling it a “farce,” “tokenism,” and a “grave insult” to the people of the violence-hit state.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge led the charge, pointing out that Modi’s less-than-five-hour visit comes after 864 days of continued unrest in Manipur, which has left over 300 dead, 67,000 displaced, and more than 1,500 injured since the outbreak of ethnic violence in May 2023.
“Narendra Modi ji, your 3-hour pit stop in Manipur is not compassion — it’s farce, tokenism, and a grave insult to wounded people,” Kharge said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He also alleged that while the Prime Minister found time to make 46 foreign trips since the violence began, he did not visit Manipur even once until now to express solidarity with the affected.
‘Cruel Mockery of the Suffering’
Kharge accused Modi of organising a “grand welcome ceremony” for himself while thousands remain in relief camps, calling the move “a cruel prick to the wounds of those still suffering.”
“Where is your Rajdharma?” Kharge asked, recalling former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous rebuke to the Gujarat government in 2002.
Venugopal: ‘A PR Stunt, Not Leadership’
Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal also condemned the visit, calling it a “belated, face-saving farce”.
“Manipur has been burning since 2023, and he found time to visit only now—after two and a half years. This is not leadership, it’s abdication of responsibility,” Venugopal posted on X.
He further alleged that the government has no plan to resolve the deep social divisions that sparked the conflict, and accused the BJP of treating the crisis as a “PR event” rather than a national tragedy.
“Instead of offering genuine outreach and solutions, the Prime Minister’s visit was tone-deaf and self-aggrandising,” he said.
Background of the Manipur Crisis
The violence in Manipur erupted in May 2023, initially triggered by a court order regarding the Scheduled Tribe status for the majority Meitei community. The conflict soon escalated into ethnic clashes between the Meiteis and Kuki-Zo communities, resulting in widespread displacement and destruction.
Despite multiple appeals and public pressure, the Prime Minister had not visited the state until his recent three-hour tour on Saturday, during which he addressed rallies in both Imphal and Churachandpur and inaugurated development projects.
While Modi appealed for peace and unity during his visit and announced several welfare initiatives, critics say the effort came too late and lacked depth.
