Amidst calls for a ‘popular government’ from within its own ranks, the BJP’s response to the Manipur anniversary has been muted. The focus remains on President’s Rule, even as community tensions persist and the opposition demands action.
BY PC Bureau
The second anniversary of the devastating Manipur violence, May 3rd, passe3d away with a stark contrast of voices and actions, highlighting the deep chasm that persists in the state. While the Congress seized the moment to demand fresh elections, and both Kuki-Zo and Meitei communities held poignant shows of strength in Delhi, Imphal, and the hill districts, the BJP leadership remained conspicuously absent.
The silence from senior BJP figures, both at the state and national level, was deafening. No public statements, no expressions of solidarity, no visible engagement with the raw emotions that gripped the state. This absence has raised serious questions about the party’s approach to a crisis that continues to fester, leaving deep scars on Manipur’s social fabric.
Adding to the intrigue is the scheduled visit of BJP’s North East coordinator, Sambit Patra, to Imphal on May 5. This visit, occurring amidst the intense political climate, is widely speculated to be linked to the persistent calls for the restoration of a “popular government” in Manipur. This demand, notably championed by BJP legislator Tongbram Robindro and 20 other NDA MLAs, underscores the internal dissent within the ruling alliance. Their memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling for a change in governance, reflects a growing sense of frustration with the current state of affairs.
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Despite this internal pressure and the vocal demands from Imphal-based civil society groups, indications suggest that the central government is unlikely to reinstate a popular government in the immediate future. The focus, it appears, remains on maintaining President’s Rule, which, according to reports, has yielded positive results in terms of weapon recovery, arrests, and a crackdown on extortion rackets.
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The central government may be banking on the idea that President’s Rule is laying the groundwork for lasting peace through dialogues and security measures, a process that they deem essential before any return to elected governance.
The BJP’s silence on the anniversary, coupled with the ongoing debate about governance, paints a complex picture. While the central government may be pursuing a calculated strategy, the perceived lack of empathy and engagement from senior BJP leaders risks further exacerbating the already fragile situation in Manipur. The state remains a tinderbox, and the absence of a strong, visible political presence from the ruling party leaves a void that other voices are all too willing to fill. The potential visit of Sambit Patra will be closely watched, to see if it signals a shift in the BJPs stance, or if the silence will continue.
