Daijiworld Media Network - Wayanad
Wayanad, Sep 13: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday over what she termed his “inordinately delayed” visit to Manipur, a state that has been reeling from ethnic violence and unrest for nearly two years.
Speaking to the media in her Wayanad constituency, Priyanka said she was “glad” the Prime Minister had finally chosen to go, but described the move as “very unfortunate” due to its timing.
“I’m glad he has decided after two years that it’s worth his visiting. He should have visited much earlier,” she said.
The Congress general secretary accused Modi of failing to uphold the basic responsibility of leadership by not reaching out earlier to the people of Manipur, where prolonged ethnic clashes, displacement, and insecurity have shaken daily life.
“He has allowed what is happening there to happen for so long — so many people to get killed, and so many people to go through so much strife before he has decided to visit,” she added.
Priyanka underscored that Prime Ministers in the past — regardless of party or ideology — had traditionally made immediate visits to conflict zones or disaster-hit areas, a protocol she claimed Modi had disregarded.
“That has been the tradition since Independence. So, he is fulfilling it after two years. I think he should have thought of it before,” she said.
Political Context
Priyanka’s remarks come as the Congress continues to build pressure on the BJP-led Centre for its handling of the Manipur crisis, which erupted in May 2023 after ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
With hundreds dead, thousands displaced, and relief camps overflowing, the state has seen a near-total breakdown of law and order. Yet, the Prime Minister’s absence from the scene — until now — has been a major political flashpoint.
The Congress has repeatedly accused the BJP of ignoring the northeast, and Priyanka’s comments are aimed at reigniting public scrutiny ahead of crucial state and national elections.
On the Ground in Wayanad
Priyanka, who took over the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in November 2024 after Rahul Gandhi vacated it, is currently on an eight-day tour of her constituency, meeting locals and addressing various development issues.
Her sharp criticism of PM Modi is expected to resonate beyond Kerala, especially as the Congress attempts to reframe the national political narrative on issues of governance, accountability, and regional neglect.