In one of his sharpest attacks on the ruling dispensation, former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh today accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being directly responsible for the prolonged unrest and deepening communal divide in Manipur, asserting that the ongoing turmoil is “the inevitable result of the BJP’s misguided policies and political arrogance.”
He was speaking at a commemorative programme organised by the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) at Congress Bhavan, BT Road, Imphal, to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the 41st death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi — leaders he described as “the Iron Man and Iron Lady of India” who built and defended the nation’s unity.
Ibobi said the BJP’s attempt to project normalcy through public events and festivities, such as the upcoming Sangai Festival, cannot hide the pain and insecurity faced by thousands of displaced people still living in relief camps. “The government may try to showcase peace to the world, but the people of Manipur know the truth — the state is bleeding, and the government has failed to heal it,” he remarked.
The former Chief Minister said that even issues that once had a clear roadmap under the previous UPA government, such as the Indo-Myanmar border fencing, have been handled with gross incompetence under the BJP regime. He reminded that during 2010–2011, the UPA government had sanctioned 10 km of fencing work and that the Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allowed limited cross-border movement, was rationalised to 10 km under Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to maintain balance between security and people-to-people contact. “Today, the BJP’s handling of such matters has not only confused policies but also alienated communities,” he added.
Ibobi accused the BJP of dividing communities for political gain, stating that the ruling party’s silence and indecision during the state’s worst humanitarian crisis in decades reflect a total breakdown of governance. “They promised peace, but delivered chaos. They talked of integrity, but destroyed trust,” he said.
Paying rich tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Ibobi reminded that Patel’s vision of India was one of unity through justice, not domination. He also recalled Indira Gandhi’s leadership in defending India’s sovereignty during critical times, citing her firm handling of the Punjab and Mizoram crises, which culminated in the historic Mizo Peace Accord.
The commemorative event was attended by senior MPCC leaders, former MPs, and a large number of party workers who paid floral tributes to the two national icons. The programme also served as a platform for the Congress to reiterate its message that peace, integrity, and reconciliation — not propaganda or celebration — must be the state’s top priority.