By M Devanand Sharma
Imphal (Manipur), Sep 13: Thousands of people braved heavy rain and waterlogging to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public address at Kangla Fort in Imphal, while activists from the youth wings of the Congress and Manipur Peoples’ Party (MPP) staged demonstrations near the venue. The protesters termed Modi’s visit a “political ploy” and claimed it wasn’t aimed at restoring peace and normalcy in the state.
The MPP Youth Front held protests outside their office, close to the Kangla Fort, where Modi inaugurated several development projects. Congress youth wing activists staged a similar protest in front of Congress Bhavan, about 100 meters from the PM’s function venue. Police personnel prevented the protesters from proceeding to the PM’s programme venue.
During the protest, Congress youth leaders held up a portrait depicting a “burning Manipur” and branded Modi as the “most merciless Prime Minister of India” and Home Minister Amit Shah as the “most merciless Home Minister”. The protesters alleged that Modi’s visit lacked concrete plans for restoring peace or resettling internally displaced persons.
Congress Lok Sabha MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam criticized Modi’s visit, stating that it didn’t provide a concrete and time-bound roadmap for resettling IDPs in Manipur. “Modi has never acknowledged the unprecedented crisis in Manipur, including in his speeches today,” Akoijam said.
