Continuing violence in Manipur an indictment of BJP’s failure of governance: Congress

Congress renewed its attack after four civilians were killed in the latest violence in Manipur. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called the killings horrific and condemned the continuing bloodshed. He asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah how many more innocent lives must be lost before the government acts.

The wider conflict began in May 2023 between valley-based Meitei and hill-based Kuki communities. The article says at least 306 people have died, 49 remain missing, and thousands have been displaced. Clashes involving Kuki and Naga communities have also been reported in recent months.

Congress argued that the government’s measures had not ended the crisis. Kharge questioned the work of the Peace Committee, action on the Justice Gita Mittal Committee’s recommendations, and the safety of people in relief camps. He said the violence exposed failures in law and order, constitutional protection, and national security.

The conflict has produced a severe human toll since it began in May 2023. The article gives a death toll of at least 306 people. It also reports that 49 people remain missing and that thousands have been displaced from their homes.

Displacement is reflected in the relief-camp figures. The article says 24,530 people continue to live in camps under “pathetic conditions.” Women, children, and vulnerable families are described as bearing much of the prolonged crisis. The Supreme Court also flagged 31 unnatural deaths in relief camps.

These figures show that the crisis is not limited to deaths during clashes. Missing people, displacement, unsafe camps, and continuing insecurity indicate a long-running humanitarian emergency. Congress used the figures to question the government’s response and demand safety, dignity, rehabilitation, and accountability for affected families.

An ethnic conflict is a struggle in which communities divided by ethnic identity become involved in sustained political or physical violence. Such conflicts can affect security, access to homes, political power, and public institutions. The term describes the community-based character of the violence, not a judgment about every person in either group.

In Manipur, the article identifies the main conflict as one between valley-based Meitei and hill-based Kuki communities. It began in May 2023 and has caused deaths, displacement, and prolonged relief-camp conditions. The article also reports clashes between Kuki and Naga communities in recent months.

The communal divisions help explain why the crisis has continued beyond individual incidents. Violence can separate communities geographically and deepen fear, displacement, and mistrust. The article links the continuing conflict to wider concerns about law and order, constitutional rights, civilian protection, and national security in a sensitive border State.

The article identifies three communities in connection with Manipur’s violence. It describes the Meitei as valley-based and the Kuki as hill-based. It also reports clashes involving Kuki and Naga communities in recent months. These descriptions explain the broad geographical pattern used in the report.

The valley-and-hill divide matters because communities living in different regions can experience the conflict differently. It can shape who is displaced, where people seek safety, and how relief and security are organised. The article does not give population figures, detailed cultural histories, or a precise map of Naga settlement, so those details should not be inferred from the report.

The conflict has therefore affected more than one pair of communities. The main violence is presented as Meitei–Kuki, while Kuki–Naga clashes have also been reported. This wider pattern adds to the security challenge and makes lasting peace, civilian protection, and rehabilitation more difficult.

India’s central and state authorities have taken several political and administrative steps since the violence began. According to Congress, these included imposing President’s Rule, replacing the Chief Minister, and reinstalling its own government. The Centre also constituted a Peace Committee in June 2023.

The intended mechanism was to use central intervention, political change, and dialogue to restore order. Home Minister Amit Shah constituted the Peace Committee, while the Union government’s involvement reflected the seriousness of the security crisis. Congress also asked what action had followed the recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed Justice Gita Mittal Committee.

Kharge argued that these measures had not delivered peace. He questioned the Peace Committee’s effectiveness and demanded concrete steps for security, civilian protection, and rehabilitation. He also criticised Prime Minister Modi for not visiting Manipur for nearly 29 months after the violence erupted, according to the article.

When violence continues for years, civilians lose safety, homes, and confidence in public protection. Displacement can separate families from livelihoods and communities. Prolonged insecurity also makes ordinary access to rights, justice, and public services harder, especially for women, children, and vulnerable families.

Manipur’s figures show the mechanism clearly. The article says at least 306 people have died, 49 remain missing, and 24,530 people are still in relief camps. It also says the Supreme Court flagged 31 unnatural deaths in camps. These conditions raise questions about dignity, safety, rehabilitation, and the government’s constitutional duty to protect citizens.

The security impact extends beyond individual suffering. Manipur is described as a strategically important border State, so continuing violence can weaken stability and complicate national security. Congress says the government must restore peace, protect constitutional rights, support displaced families, and accept responsibility for the prolonged failure of governance.

Under Article 356 of India’s Constitution, President’s Rule may be imposed when the President is satisfied that a state government cannot function according to the Constitution. The elected state ministry is removed or suspended, and the President, usually through the Governor, assumes state executive functions. Parliament exercises the state legislature’s powers during the arrangement.

Law and order is generally handled by the state government and its police. The Union government can intervene through constitutional supervision, central forces, security coordination, and national-security responsibilities. President’s Rule therefore changes the administrative structure, but it does not erase the need for accountable action by officials at either level.

In Manipur, the article says President’s Rule was imposed, followed by a change of Chief Minister and reinstallation of the government. Congress argues that these steps did not restore peace. Accountability is consequently shared: state authorities must protect residents, while the Union must explain its interventions and security measures.