Manipur: Kharge Calls BJP A Matchstick

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized PM Narendra Modi and the BJP for failing to address ongoing violence in Manipur, which began in May 2023. Kharge accused Modi of ignoring the crisis since his last visit in January 2022 and blamed the BJP for fueling unrest between the Meitei and Kuki communities.

Citing satellite images and reports, Kharge claimed villages have been destroyed and over 250 people killed, with 60,000 displaced. He condemned Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh as "incompetent" following fresh violence, where protesters injured a senior police official in Kangpokpi district.

Kharge held the BJP responsible for the deteriorating situation, calling them the “matchstick” that ignited Manipur’s troubles. He emphasized that it is the Union and state governments' constitutional duty to restore peace, as even the Supreme Court has urged action. Kharge demanded accountability for the prolonged suffering of the state's people.