Congress attacks, BJP unfazed
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: April 29, 2025 -

REGARDLESS of its insignificant presence in both houses of the parliament compared to the collective strength of the ruling BJP, there is no doubt that the Indian National Congress, which is the main opposition party in the Lok Sabha, has been leaving no stone unturned in criticising the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the centre vis-a-vis the unrest situation plaguing Manipur for almost two years now.

For over a year since the violence broke out in May 2023, the Congress party relentlessly targeted the then chief minister N Biren, holding him responsible for the crisis besieging the state, ultimately forcing the latter to tender resignation in the backdrop of imminent no confidence motion by the Congress party and hectic parleys by some disgruntled BJP legislators to unseat him.

In a sense, the Congress' pressure tactics paid off in the form of imposition of the President's Rule in the state after no one stepped forward to occupy the hot seat.

The discussion on the proclamation of the President's Rule was also marked by expression of dissent by Congress MPs and party leaders, who likened scheduling of the discussion at 2 am to bulldozing the proclamation on President's Rule in the Lok Sabha, along with contending that the one hour slot for debate and discussion provided just about enough time for the Home Minister's falsehoods, twists, and distortions.

The mainstream media might have been undermining gravity of the situation but Manipur figuring prominently in every parliament session held after the May 2023 violence underscores firm resolve of the Congress party in exposing the half-hearted approach of the BJP government in addressing the crisis.

With imposition of the President's Rule unable to make any significant change in the overall situation apart from cessation of the armed conflict between the warring communities, it seems the Congress party is keen to exert pressure on the BJP government in expediting all relevant process for ending the Manipur crisis, as is evident from All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary (in-charge of Manipur), Christopher Tilak, charging the BJP of bringing President's Rule instead of development and branding Manipur as epitome of lawlessness.

Addressing the medial during the launch of a state-level 'Samvidhan Bachao Rally' organised by Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Sunday, Tilak elaborated that India's strength lies in its diversity, with over 300 ethnic communities, more than 4,500 castes, 35 major languages, and multiple religions.

The AICC functionary also alleged that the BJP is violating the Constitution, creating chaos in the country and destroying the fabric of Manipur rather that striving to restore normalcy in the state.

He also pointed out that the violence and continuous tensions has crippled Manipur's economy, rate of unemployment on the rise, and manpower shortages across various sectors, including education and healthcare.

The BjP leaderships might not accord importance to such harsh criticisms but the Congress party's stand has proven that a strong and constructive opposition is essential for a healthy democracy.

Though it is obvious that the BJP and its government would be unfazed by the onslaughts in the parliament and outside, for the people of strife-torn Manipur there is not much option other than hoping that the Congress and other opposition parties would continue to play the role as essential watchdogs of a vibrant democracy and hold the government accountable for its actions.