Rahul accuses Modi govt of pushing Manipur into ‘civil war’

NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused the BJP-led government of pushing Manipur into a “civil war” due to its policies and political views.

The Congress leader also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the state where ethnic riots had broken out.

Initiating a debate on the motion of thanks for the president’s speech in the Lok Sabha on behalf of the opposition, Gandhi alleged that the government was behaving as if nothing had happened in Manipur.

“You have dragged Manipur into a civil war. Manipur was burnt because of you, your politics and your politics,” he said.

The Congress leader said that it appears Manipur is not an Indian state. “There is no Manipur state for the Prime Minister. We urged the Prime Minister to convey the message, to go there. But no. You can’t get an answer (from the prime minister),” he said.

Gandhi also addressed the plight of women in the northeastern state.

In response to the remark of the treasury benches, he stated that “you do not include women in your organization, but I can talk about them.”

Manipur has been simmering since May last year when ethnic riots broke out in the state following a march organized by the Kuki tribe in the hill districts to protest against the demand of the valley’s dominant Meitei community for scheduled tribe (ST) status.