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Key Points

The Assam Congress unit has strongly criticized Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to Manipur, calling it a case of "too little, too late." Senior Congress leader Pradyut Bordoloi pointed out that while Manipur suffered ethnic violence for over two years, the Prime Minister found time for 39 foreign trips but not for the troubled state. The party accused the BJP of spreading misinformation during Modi's northeastern tour and distorting facts about Rahul Gandhi's stance on military operations. Congress leaders also questioned the BJP's inconsistent messaging, contrasting their divisive rhetoric with Bhupen Hazarika's message of harmony and brotherhood.

Key Points: Assam Congress Slams PM Modi Manipur Visit as Too Little Too Late

  • Congress says PM Modi visited 39 foreign countries during Manipur crisis
  • Accuses BJP of peddling misinformation during northeastern tour
  • Questions BJP's historical references to Nehru as unfounded
  • Highlights contradiction between BJP rhetoric and Bhupen Hazarika's harmony ideals
2 min read

Assam Congress hits out at PM Modi's Manipur visit, calls it 'too little, too late'

Assam Congress criticizes PM Modi's delayed Manipur visit after 2.5 years of ethnic unrest, accusing him of misplaced priorities and foreign tours over domestic crisis.

"For more than two-and-a-half years, Manipur was burning... he did not find time to visit Manipur until now - Pradyut Bordoloi"

Guwahati, Sep 15

The Assam unit of Congress, on Monday, criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Manipur, saying that his intervention came more than two years too late, while the state endured a prolonged spell of ethnic unrest.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, senior Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi highlighted what he described as the Prime Minister's misplaced priorities.

"For more than two-and-a-half years, Manipur was burning. During that time, the Prime Minister toured 39 foreign countries, some of them more than once. Yet, he did not find time to visit Manipur until now," Bordoloi said.

The Congress termed PM Modi's arrival in the strife-torn state as "too little, too late", contending that the crisis warranted immediate attention from the country's top leadership when communal clashes first broke out in May 2023.

Congress leaders reminded that they had repeatedly urged Prime Minister Modi to visit Manipur during the height of the violence, but their appeals went unheeded.

The Opposition Congress also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of peddling misinformation during PM Modi's northeastern tour.

Bordoloi took exception to the remarks made against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Assam, alleging that the Prime Minister had distorted facts about the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition's position during Operation Sindoor.

"The record is clear -- Rahul Gandhi has always supported the Indian armed forces. To suggest otherwise is deliberate misrepresentation," he asserted.

The Congress also questioned the BJP's tendency to invoke India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in political attacks.

Bordoloi said such accusations were not only historically unfounded but also required factual verification before being repeated in public platforms.

Leader of Opposition in the Assam Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, added another dimension to the criticism, pointing to what he described as contradictions in the BJP's political messaging.

Referring to the celebrations of Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika's birth centenary, Saikia remarked that while the legendary singer promoted harmony and brotherhood through his songs, the BJP's divisive rhetoric stood in sharp contrast to those ideals.

With these observations, the Congress sought to portray the BJP's approach to Manipur and the Northeast as inconsistent, reactive, and guided by political expediency rather than genuine concern for the people.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Better late than never. At least PM Modi has visited now. Congress should focus on solutions rather than criticism. We need unity, not politics over human suffering.
A
Aditya G
As someone from Northeast, I feel both parties have failed Manipur. Congress ruled for decades and didn't solve ethnic issues, BJP ignored the crisis. We need genuine concern, not political point scoring.
S
Sarah B
The reference to Bhupen Hazarika is powerful. His music brought people together, while current politics divides. We need more harmony in our political discourse.
V
Vikram M
39 foreign visits but couldn't visit our own suffering state? This shows where priorities lie. Manipur needed leadership, not neglect. Hope this visit brings actual solutions, not just photo ops.
N
Nikhil C
While I support the government, the delay in visiting Manipur is hard to defend. National leaders should be there for all citizens during crises, regardless of political considerations.

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