The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, the Congress launched a critique against the central government for neglecting the escalating tensions in various parts of the Northeast, specifically questioning why the PM has not yet visited the conflict-ridden state of Manipur. Jairam Ramesh, Congress general-secretary, juxtaposed the Prime Minister’s engagement in Kaziranga with pressing questions concerning the deteriorating situation across the Northeast, including allegations of Chinese aggression along the Indian border, the ongoing violence in Manipur, and emerging crises in Nagaland and Assam involving separatist groups.
Ramesh pointed out the contradiction between Modi’s 2020 statement denying Chinese encroachment and the continued reports of PLA activities affecting Indian citizens and patrols. He highlighted individual cases of alleged abductions by the PLA, including that of a 19-year-old from Arunachal Pradesh and a missing person since 2015, to underscore the perceived inaction and misleading narratives presented by the Prime Minister.
Addressing the internal conflict in Manipur, Ramesh detailed the tragic outcomes of nearly a year-long “virtual civil war,” including deaths, displacements, and administrative collapse. Recent incidents of violence and kidnappings were cited as examples of the ongoing unrest, prompting questions about Modi’s absence and lack of direct intervention in the state.
In Nagaland, the Congress leader brought attention to the public emergency declared by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) and the potential disruption to democratic processes, demanding to know the steps being taken by the government to address these concerns. Ramesh also mentioned the abduction of laborers in Assam and along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border by separatist groups, questioning the government’s response to these security challenges.
Through these criticisms, the Congress aims to highlight the central government’s alleged neglect and inadequate response to the complex issues facing the Northeast, challenging the Prime Minister to engage more directly with the affected states and their inhabitants.