New Delhi [India], February 13 : Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Thursday welcomed the President's Rule in Manipur following the resignation of Chief Minister N Biren Singh, calling it a "good step because there was no other option."
Speaking with ANI, Jairam Ramesh said, "I think that imposing the President's Rule is another step, a good step because there was no other option."
Jairam Ramesh emphasised on the violence that erupted between Meitei and the Kuki communities in 2023 and said that the Congress has been demanding for the President's rule.
"For the last 20 months, we have been demanding that there is no other way than imposing President's Rule. In 2022, the BJP and its ally NDA won the election with a huge majority. But within 15 months, Manipur started burning. More than 300 people were killed. 60,000 people were displaced. Property worth crores of rupees was burnt, and in a way, a terrible atmosphere was created. There used to be social harmony, but it has completely deteriorated," Jairam Ramesh
Ramesh, criticizing PM Modi for going on foreign tours while doing "nothing" for the Manipur, urged him to visit the state.
"Several months have passed, and the Prime Minister has not gone there yet. People have to face these issues because of divisive rule of BJP. Today I received information in Parliament that PM Modi is going to visit Guwahati on 23 or 24. PM can go to Imphal for half an hour give a healing touch. People most important demand is peace, faith. State administration should listen to people's demand. PM Modi should also visit there. In past 21 months he went to Moscow, Washington, Paris everywhere but did nothing for Manipur." Ramesh said.
Ramesh told ANI that Congress has yet to discuss about their demand of midterm polls in Manipur.
"We will talk to our party colleagues; we'll have internal meetings; whether we should demand midterm polls in Manipur or not remains to be seen. We'll have to discuss this. But immediately our demand is Prime Minister must visit Manipur," Ramesh said.
Additionally, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari lashed out at BJP over the President's Rule in Manipur saying that they "want to kill the Democracy."
"The BJP wants to kill the Democracy. Why was the President's Rule imposed when preparations to bring about the no-confidence motion were being made?" Tiwari said.
On the other hand, Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said that the law and order of the state will be improved in the President's Rule.
"The law and order in the state will be improved after imposing the President's Rule in the state for some time. We welcome the decision of the government," Majhi said.
BJP' Sambit Patra said that the state assembly has been placed under suspended animation. "it is under suspended animation," Patra said
President's Rule has been imposed in Manipur, days after BJP leader N Biren Singh resigned as state Chief Minister nearly two years since ethnic violence erupted in the state.
The President's Rule was imposed after President Droupadi Murmu received a report from the state Governor.
Biren Singh, who resigned on Sunday said it has been an honour to serve the people of Manipur.
"I am extremely grateful to the Central government for timely actions, interventions, developmental work and implementation of various projects for safeguarding the interest of every single Manipuri," he wrote in his resignation letter.
Violence had erupted between the Meitei and the Kuki communities in Manipur after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3, 2023, following the Manipur High Court order directing the state to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes list.