After PR all eyes on ending conflict
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: February 15, 2025 -

NOW that the President's Rule has been imposed despite objection raised by both political and civil society organisations, it is hoped that the central government would do the needful to address the nearly two-year old conflict between the Kuki and Meetei communities, make the national highways safe for travel by all, prevent illegal immigration which is posing serious threat to the state's demography and check poppy plantations in the hill areas, among other issues afflicting the tiny land-locked Manipur.

Taking into account that the Congress party's plan to table no confidence motion in the proposed assembly session led to the eventual downfall of the N Biren-led coalition government, many would also be looking forward to the grand old party extending all possible support to the state's administrators in resolving the crisis.

With senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, among other party leaders, attributing imposition of the President's Rule in Manipur to the BJP's complete inability to govern in the state, he would be expected to play a vital role in mounting the pressure on the Narendra Modi government to deescalate tension and bring an end to the protracted violence, which has cost the lives of over 250 people and resulted in displacement of thousands of families, forcing them to live in relief camps under pathetic condition.

As the main opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Congress parliamentarians should also push for constructive discussions on the Manipur crisis in the parliament, rather than deriving pleasures on materialisation of its long pending demand, which is removal of chief minister N Biren, holding him responsible for the conflict.

In an X post, Rahul wrote, "The imposition of President's Rule in Manipur is a belated admission by the BJP of their complete inability to govern in Manipur. Now, PM Modi can no longer deny his direct responsibility for Manipur. Has he finally made up his mind to visit the state, and explain to the people of Manipur and India his plan to restore peace and normalcy?"

To the Congress party the BJP central leaders' advice to N Biren to step down as the chief minister might be a belated move but it needs no reminding that no political organisation would cherish downfall of own government in any state.

For the record, the President's Rule was imposed in strife-torn Manipur and the state assembly put under suspended animation amid consistent demand by the Congress, among other opposition parties, for dismissal of the Biren government.

Now that its demand has been fulfilled, the Indian National Congress should strive to convince the people of Manipur that its demand had no intention to compound miseries of the state's masses but to expose utter failure of the BJP governments at the centre and in the state in addressing the Manipur crisis as well as to help in upholding the constitutional machinery.

Regardless of the divergent views on imposition of the President's Rules between the Congress party's central and state leaders, especially the latter's objection to dismissal, albeit temporarily, of the public-mandated government, there is every reason for the people to belief that the Congress would share constructive ideas on healing the wounds and preventing regression of Manipur in all aspects.