Imphal: Ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s three-day visit to Assam and Mizoram, the Congress party has raised questions about the absence of Manipur from his itinerary. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh expressed surprise at Manipur’s exclusion, given the state’s ongoing ethnic strife.
According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Shah’s visit will commence on March 14, with his arrival in Jorhat, followed by a trip to Dergaon in Golaghat district, where he will spend the night at the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy. The home minister’s visit aims to address various issues in the northeastern states, including the relocation of the Assam Rifles establishment from Aizawl to Zokhawsang in Mizoram.
The Congress party has been critical of the Centre’s handling of the situation in Manipur, where ethnic violence between the Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and the adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups has resulted in over 220 deaths and thousands displaced since May 2023. The party has also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur, despite his recent trip to Mauritius.
Read More: Manipur MP Alleges “Serious Infringement” on Parliamentary Rights