First thing PM Modi should do is sack Manipur CM: Cong chief Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the Manipur violence and said the first thing he should do is sack Chief Minister N Biren Singh if he is really concerned about the state.

No amount of "propaganda" by the BJP-led government can cover up its "abject failure" in handling the Manipur situation, Kharge said.

He said reports indicate that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has finally spoken to Modi on the situation in the northeastern state and added, "For the last 55 days, Modiji did not say a word on Manipur. Every Indian is waiting for him to speak."

"If Modiji is really concerned about Manipur, then the first thing he should do is sack his chief minister," Kharge said on Twitter.

More than 100 people have so far lost their lives in the ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur.

Kharge said, "No amount of propaganda by the BJP and Modi government can cover up their abject failures in dealing with (the) Manipur violence."

The Congress chief also demanded that the government confiscate all stolen weapons in the northeastern state.

Suggesting several steps to restore peace in Manipur, Kharge said the government should start talking to all the parties and find a common political path.

"End the blockade with the help of security forces. Ensure the availability of essential commodities by opening and keeping the national highways safe.

"A package of relief, rehabilitation and livelihood for the affected people should be prepared without delay. The announced relief package is grossly inadequate," he said.

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh met the members of the Manipur Tribals' Forum, who discussed the situation in their home state with the veteran leader and handed over a memorandum to him.

"Today evening I met with the Manipur Tribals' Forum, Delhi who poured out their pain and anguish at the state of the affairs in Manipur over the past 55 days. I shared our solidarity with them and assured them of all possible support from the Congress party to ensure return of peace and normalcy in Manipur," Ramesh said.

The Manipur Tribals' Forum members presented a memorandum to him, the Congress leader said while sharing it on Twitter.

"Besides the points made in it, they stressed that the incumbent CM Biren Singh should be removed immediately for any progress to happen towards dialogue and reconciliation.

"They also provided a detailed day-to-day account of what has happened in Manipur since the Union Home Minister made the appeal for 15 days of peace," Ramesh said.

Singh briefed Shah here on Sunday on the "evolving situation" in Manipur and said the state and central governments have been able to control the violence to a "great extent".

Modi chaired a meeting on the situation in Manipur with senior cabinet colleagues and officials on Monday after returning from his State visits to the United States and Egypt.