Northeast Desk, 29th July— Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar delivered a harsh critique of the central government’s handling of the ongoing crisis in Manipur during a public event in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. Pawar lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the northeastern state to address the escalating turmoil and voiced his disappointment over the government’s perceived inaction.
“After such a significant crisis has befallen Manipur, it is the duty of the ruling authorities to confront the situation head-on, assure its people, and work towards restoring unity and law and order. Yet, today’s leaders have failed to do so. The Prime Minister has not deemed it necessary to visit Manipur and console its people,” Pawar stated.
He drew attention to the severe breakdown of communal harmony in Manipur, a state previously known for its diverse communities living in peace. “People from various communities in Manipur, who once coexisted harmoniously, are now not even on speaking terms. Recent discussions in Parliament and visits by affected individuals to Delhi underscore the severity of the situation. The state, which thrived on unity, is now plagued by conflict, destroyed agriculture, and incidents of violence against women,” Pawar added.
The violence in Manipur began on May 3, 2023, following clashes during a rally by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) protesting the demand for Meitei community inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe category. In response to the unrest, Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted a high-level review of the security situation in June and issued directives to prevent further violence in the region.
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