Congress questions PM Modi's 'adamant refusal' to visit Manipur ahead of US trip

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had on Saturday said that the prime minister will not be able to visit the state on January 18 as planned.

The Congress was quick to react, with state unit president K Meghachandra claiming that Modi's "adamant refusal" to visit Manipur was a "slap in the face" of the people of the state.

The Congress has questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "adamant refusal" to visit Manipur ahead of his trip to the United States, calling it a "slap in the face" of the people of the state.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had on Saturday said that the prime minister will not be able to visit the state on January 18 as planned due to "unavoidable circumstances".

The Congress was quick to react, with state unit president K Meghachandra claiming that Modi's "adamant refusal" to visit Manipur was a "slap in the face" of the people of the state.

"The prime minister's refusal to visit Manipur is a clear indication that he does not care about the people of the state," Meghachandra said.

"He is more interested in going to the US to meet President Trump than in addressing the problems of the people of Manipur," he added.

The Congress also accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of neglecting the Northeast region.

"The BJP government has failed to address the problems of the Northeast region," Meghachandra said.

"They have failed to provide basic amenities to the people of the region, and they have failed to protect the rights of the indigenous people," he added.

The Congress's criticism of Modi comes at a time when the prime minister is facing criticism from various quarters for his handling of the situation in Manipur.

The state has been rocked by protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which was passed by Parliament last month.

The bill seeks to provide citizenship to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014.

The Congress and other opposition parties have opposed the bill, saying that it is discriminatory and will undermine the rights of the indigenous people of the Northeast.

The protests in Manipur have been particularly violent, with several people being killed in clashes with security forces.

Modi's decision not to visit Manipur has been seen as a sign that the government is not taking the situation in the state seriously.

The Congress has called on the prime minister to reconsider his decision and visit Manipur as soon as possible.

"The prime minister must visit Manipur and address the concerns of the people of the state," Meghachandra said.

"He must also take steps to address the problems of the Northeast region as a whole," he added.