PM Modi need not speak on Manipur conflict every day: Minister Susindro

IT News
Imphal, July 9:

CAF & PD Minister Leishangthem Susindro Meitei has said that the people of Manipur should understand that the Prime Minister need not speak about Manipur every day. His statement came in response to Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Manipur. He alleged that Congress is trying to bring a political settlement to this conflict, which is unacceptable to the BJP.
“Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party have misled people. They are saying one thing to the Meitei and another thing to the Kukis,” Minister Susindro said.
“People voted for Congress because they spread the notion that the Prime Minister has not spoken about Manipur. Congress spread this through social media with paid posts. They are lying about it,” the minister added. However, since the beginning of the violence on May 3 last year until the election, the Prime Minister spoke once about Manipur for 36 seconds.
“PM has spoken about Manipur. However, India’s PM need not speak on Manipur every day,” the minister reiterated.
The minister’s criticisms have been made in the context of the emerging debate around MP Akoijam Bimol questioning in parliament whether the central government’s handling of Manipur betrays a colonial mentality existing in the minds of the central leaders. He also challenged the PM to speak on Manipur. However, Akoijam Bimol has been criticized for not raising the issues of NRC, SoO, and ST.
In response, PM Modi spoke on Manipur for 5 minutes and 36 seconds in Rajya Sabha, but he too did not mention NRC, SoO, or any other contentious points, which people expected him to address.
Moreover, BJP Minister Susindro has doubled down on Congress, saying, “I have already said that Congress’s manifesto talks about providing separate administration. Picking up on that, the Kukis have submitted a memorandum stating that they want separate administration. So, now these intellectuals should explain what is going on with this.”
He showed the media the ITLF statement which reads, “In order to achieve our socio-economic and political goals, the political settlement stipulated in the Congress party’s manifesto must be fulfilled.”
Minister Susindro has said that Congress’s ploy to bring a political settlement to the conflict is unacceptable to the BJP.