‘Organisations on lines of RSS, Bajrang Dal have been formed in Manipur,’ says Congress

AICC Manipur in-charge Bhakta Charan Das called for President’s rule in state in light of recent ethnic conflict and violence.

Charred vehicles on the streets of Imphal, Manipur. The state saw 212 days of internet shutdown last year | Image for representation | Karishma Hasnat | ThePrint

New Delhi: Congress on Thursday compared the valley-based organisations Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun in Manipur to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bajrang Dal. Congress leader and AICC Manipur in-charge Bhakta Charan Das said that the two organisations are “spreading fear and terror,” allegedly “abetted” by Chief Minister and BJP leader N. Biren Singh. The party also called for the President’s rule in the state in light of the recent ethnic conflict and violence.

Das, speaking at a press conference at the Congress HQ here, said that in March 2022, the BJP’s “so-called double engine sarkar” formed the government in Manipur with a resounding mandate from both the hills and the valley. “Two long-standing demands precipitated the current crisis. First, more autonomy to HAC and the 6 ADCS for the hill areas. Second is ST status for the Meiteis. The BJP government, both in the state and the Centre, betrayed the people of all communities of Manipur,” he added. 

The Congress leader stressed that no democratic process was initiated either by the Union or the state government to fulfill these demands. “Instead conflict was triggered through undemocratic actions by the state government, including sudden evacuation of villages from 38 forest areas, the spread of violence by BJP functionaries at protest sites and provocation from the Chief Minister with his arrogant utterances”, he added.

Das said that the unrest was “systematically” engineered by the BJP as there was resentment against the government. As an example, he pointed to rallies by the All Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur in all hill districts of the state on 3 May. 

“It was largely peaceful. A memorandum was given to the District Collector at the end of the protest. But when it was underway in Churachandpur district, former BJP youth president Barish Sharma, with a mob, had participated in the rally. Why was he there at the rally? Who asked him to go there? He created problems by arguing with the students there at Churachandpur,” he argued.

Das added that under Sharma’s leadership, the Anglo-Kuki war centenary gate in Churachandpur was damaged. “This agitated the Kuki tribe present there and the violence was aggravated,” he said.

The Congress leader further referred to the two Manipur organisations – Arambai Tenggol and Meitei Leepun – to prove his point.

“It is during this time that two special forces like RSS and Bajrang Dal were created. One is Arambai Tenggol and the other is Meitei Leepun. They were in black clothes and moved around in a group of hundreds on bikes with guns. They entered police stations and police training centres and looted the armory. They burned churches, looted villagers, and created havoc like anything,” Das said.

The Congress further asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not appealed for peace in the area and also questioned the absence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the state.

“We want President’s rule in Manipur to bring the situation under control,” Das added.