Imphal: Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, reacting to the resignation of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, stated that he stepped down due to "mounting public pressure."

The LoP, who visited Manipur three times after ethnic violence erupted on May 3, 2023, criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its handling of the situation. In a post on X, he said:

"For nearly two years, BJP's CM Biren Singh instigated division in Manipur. PM Modi allowed him to continue despite the violence, loss of life, and the destruction of the idea of India in Manipur."

He added that Singh’s resignation was a result of public outcry, the Supreme Court's investigation, and the Congress-led no-confidence motion.

"But the most urgent priority is to restore peace in the state and work to heal the wounds of the people of Manipur. PM Modi must visit Manipur at once, listen to the people, and finally explain his plan to bring back normalcy," he said.

Rahul Gandhi’s third visit to Manipur was part of the second leg of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which commenced from the violence-hit state on January 14, 2024. The 67-day-long Yatra concluded in Mumbai after covering 85 districts across 14 states.

The Congress had launched the Yatra with a promise to "bring peace and harmony" to Manipur. Gandhi has persistently urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both inside and outside Parliament, to visit the state and take steps to restore normalcy.

Jairam Ramesh criticises Modi’s absence from Manipur

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary and MP Jairam Ramesh reiterated that the party had planned to move a no-confidence motion against Singh and his Council of Ministers in the Manipur Assembly. He suggested that Singh resigned in anticipation of the motion’s impact.

"This was a demand that the Congress has been making since early May 2023, when Manipur erupted. The Chief Minister’s resignation was belated. The people of Manipur now await a visit by our Frequent Flier PM who is off to France and the USA now - and who has found neither the time nor the inclination to go to Manipur these past twenty months," Ramesh posted on X.

Ramesh, who has also visited Manipur multiple times since the outbreak of violence, underscored the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis in the state.

Impact of ethnic violence in Manipur

Since the ethnic violence began on May 3, 2023, over 250 people, including women and children, have been killed. More than 1,500 individuals have been injured, and approximately 70,000 have been displaced.

The conflict started after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status. The resulting riots led to the destruction of thousands of homes, government and private properties, and religious structures.

To contain the violence, over 60,000 Central security personnel, including the Army and Assam Rifles, have been deployed in Manipur.

In response to the ethnic strife, nearly 50,650 people belonging to different communities have been displaced and are currently sheltering in approximately 350 relief camps set up in schools, government buildings, and auditoriums across the state.

Additionally, thousands of displaced individuals—mainly from the Kuki-Zo tribal community—have sought refuge in neighbouring states, including Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland, and Meghalaya.

IANS