National Coordinator, AICC minority department, and also in-charge of Manipur, Rajesh Kumar Sethi, on Friday has condemned the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Manipur, attributing it to sheer negligence, political expediency, and an absolute failure of governance at every level
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
In a scathing statement issued on Friday, National Coordinator, AICC minority department, and also in-charge of Manipur, Rajesh Kumar Sethi, on Friday has condemned the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Manipur, attributing it to sheer negligence, political expediency, and an absolute failure of governance at every level.
In the press statement, he called the delay in imposing the “Presidents’ Rule” in the state of Manipur was not just a “political miscalculation” but a gross betrayal of the people of Manipur.
Questioning the intent and urgency of government of India (GoI), Sethi asked “
Where was the urgency from the central leadership when Manipur burned for months? How many lives had to be lost, how many homes destroyed, how much trust fractured before someone in power took responsibility? Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, who holds the most critical portfolio for internal security, owes the nation an answer. Why wasn’t action taken immediately when it was evident that the state government, led by Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, had completely lost control?”
He asserted that the central leadership is directly responsible for the chaos by citing that if there is or was responsible for this unending crisis, it is the central government, which chose political optics over human lives while adding that instead of removing an incompetent state leadership, the Centre stood by in cold indifference, offering meaningless reassurances while Manipur bled.
“This isn’t just a lapse in judgment; it is a complete dereliction of duty at the highest level,” he added.
Stressing that the issue is not minor of the law and order, Rajesh Kumar Sethi, added that the issue is a complete collapse of constitutional machinery, and questioned that if the union Home Minister, Amit Shah, cannot protect the citizens of a state, why should he continue in his position for which he demanded accountability and demanded for immediate resignation of Amit Shah.
Later, the national coordinator, AICC minority department, in-charge of Manipur, stated that the crisis happened in Manipur was preventable, but lamented those in power chose politics over people.
“The delay in imposing President’s Rule is unforgivable. Heads must roll, starting from the top! The people of India deserve leaders who are accountable, not those who hide behind press conferences and scripted speeches while the nation burns. Amit Shah must resign for failing to control law and order and dividing the community with his inaction when it was needed the most,” Kumar further said.