PM must visit Manipur before Parliament's winter session: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress Monday demanded that PM Narendra Modi visit Manipur before the start of Parliament's winter session on November 25 and criticised him for ignoring the state over the last 18 months.

The party reiterated its demand that CM Biren Singh be sacked, even as it questioned the absence of a full-time governor for nearly four months. Congress asked why the earlier governor (Anusuiya Uikey), an "eminent tribal woman", was removed midway through her term. It demanded home minister Amit Shah's resignation.

Manipur Congress president K Meghachandra, along with AICC in-charge Girish Chodankar and spokesperson Jairam Ramesh, said the violence has become intense, with even political netas' homes being attacked. Meghachandra said Modi should visit the state, but if he is unable to find time, he should give an appointment to an all-party delegation from Manipur so he can be apprised of the ground reality. He reminded that Modi on Feb 25, 2017 had told an election rally in Manipur that those who cannot maintain peace in the state have no right to be in power.