Congress and other opposition parties have criticized the Centre for imposing President’s Rule in Manipur, calling it a delayed response to the ongoing crisis. With the assembly under suspended animation, questions arise about whether the BJP is truly committed to restoring stability or merely engaging in damage control.
BY PC Bureau
The imposition of President’s Rule in violence-ravaged Manipur has triggered a political storm, with opposition leaders accusing the BJP of abandoning the state and failing to act before the situation spiraled out of control. While the Centre maintains that the move is necessary to restore stability, critics argue that it is merely an admission of the government’s incompetence in handling the crisis that has gripped Manipur for nearly 21 months.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi led the charge, calling the decision a “belated admission” by the BJP of its failure to govern the state. “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 his plan to restore peace and normalcy?” he wrote on X.
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…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 13, 2025
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of deserting Manipur at its worst moment. “For over 18 months, the state has been burning. More than 250 lives have been lost, and thousands have been displaced. The BJP first failed to govern, then failed to act, and now they have imposed President’s Rule as an escape route, not a solution,” he said.
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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also slammed the Centre, calling the move “too little, too late.” “Instead of taking proactive steps to restore peace, the BJP allowed the situation to deteriorate beyond repair. Why was this step not taken earlier when the people of Manipur were pleading for help?” she questioned.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury blamed the BJP’s divisive politics for the prolonged unrest. “The ethnic strife in Manipur was worsened by the BJP’s policies. Now, instead of addressing the root causes, they impose President’s Rule as a mere formality. This does not bring justice to the victims,” he remarked.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi accused the Centre of ignoring Manipur’s suffering for political convenience. “For months, Manipur was on fire, but BJP leaders remained silent. Now, as the elections approach, they suddenly wake up and impose President’s Rule. This is not governance—it is damage control,” she said.
DMK leader Kanimozhi also voiced concern, stating that the move proves BJP’s incompetence in handling sensitive issues. “The people of Manipur have suffered immensely, yet the Prime Minister has not visited the state even once. Imposing President’s Rule will not erase BJP’s failure,” she said.
With Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s resignation plunging the state into political uncertainty, the assembly has now been placed under suspended animation. While the BJP claims it will use this period to stabilize the situation, opposition leaders argue that the move is yet another example of the government’s reactive—rather than proactive—approach to crises.
