Assam: Gaurav Gogoi questions Centre’s response to Manipur violence, seeks accountability

Guwahati: Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi has criticised the Centre’s handling of the ongoing crisis in Manipur, questioning delays in rehabilitation, investigations and peace initiatives more than three years after ethnic violence first erupted in the state in May 2023.

In a post on X, Gogoi said Manipur continued to face insecurity, displacement and recurring violence, while fresh tensions between Kuki-Zo, Naga and Meitei communities had added to the challenges facing civilians.

Referring to reported casualties in Kuki-Naga violence since February, Gogoi said emerging fault lines were claiming lives and worsening the humanitarian situation. He also recalled the violence that began in May 2023, which claimed more than 300 lives and displaced thousands of people, many of whom continue to face prolonged uncertainty.

Gogoi questioned the response of the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in the state, pointing to the delay in the resignation of then chief minister N Biren Singh and the imposition of President’s Rule in February 2025. He also expressed concern that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s subsequent visit to Manipur had not resulted in a lasting resolution to the crisis.

The Congress leader cited concerns raised by the Supreme Court-appointed committee headed by former Jammu and Kashmir High Court Chief Justice Gita Mittal regarding humanitarian conditions and the rehabilitation of displaced people. He also referred to the Supreme Court’s scrutiny of unnatural deaths in relief camps, FIRs, investigations and the safety of those displaced by the violence.

Gogoi sought clarity on the action taken on the committee’s findings and questioned the status of the Peace Committee announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in June 2023.

He also raised concerns over repeated delays in the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the violence and the absence of a date for the all-party meeting sought by the INDIA bloc.

“Three years on, the people of Manipur deserve answers, not silence and delays,” Gogoi said, calling on the Union and state governments to ensure civilian safety, impartial investigations, meaningful rehabilitation and sustained dialogue to restore peace.

His remarks come amid continuing concerns over violence, displacement and the prospects for reconciliation in Manipur, where efforts to restore normalcy have faced persistent challenges.