A Congress leader from Assam on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “remind” Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh of his “raj dharma” while discharging his duty just as he was reminded in 2002 by one of his predecessors, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The request to Modi was made in a two-page letter on the prevailing unrest and violence in Manipur since May 3 by Assam Congress Legislature Party leader Debabrata Saikia. Both the Centre and the Manipur government are led by BJP governments.
Saikia's letter urged Modi “to remind the chief minister of Manipur, Shri Biren Singh, to observe the principles of raj dharma, just as you were reminded by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji over two decades ago. It is crucial for elected officials to uphold their responsibilities and take necessary actions to restore peace and harmony in the region”.
In the wake of the 2002 Gujarat riots, addressing a press conference with then chief minister Modi after a visit to relief camps sheltering the riot-hit, Vajpayee had suggested that an elected chief minister should follow his raj dharma, implying a leader/ruler should act impartially or not discriminate on grounds of community or religion.
Modi had responded by saying he was following his rajdharma to which Vajpayee said he was sure Modi was doing just that. Political parties and politicians have since reminded the Centre or a state government of its duty if its policies or actions are going against raj dharma.
Former Prime Minister Vajpayee passed away in 2018.
Saikia seemed to have invoked the concept of raj dharma and former Prime Minister Vajpayee because the “elected government of Manipur has failed to address these issues effectively, leaving the residents of Manipur in a state of distress and uncertainty.”
Kuki organisations and politicians have accused Biren Singh of triggering the unrest and are refusing to be part of peace initiatives involving him and are demanding a separate administration. The Meiteis, on the other hand, are blaming Kuki militants under suspension of operations pact and narco-terrorists from neighbouring Myanmar for fuelling the unrest.
There is also disquiet in Manipur over Modi’s continued silence on the Manipur situation which finds mention in Saikia’s letter. “I am writing to you as a concerned citizen of India... I strongly urge you to speak out and take decisive action to restore peace in the region, ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents... The people of Manipur are looking forward to aid and intervention from the central government due to the lack of action taken by the elected government of Manipur,” Saikia said.
“There has also been a demand from various quarters, including the Congress party and BJP Meitei MLAs, for an all-party delegation to visit Manipur and assess the ground reality.... This demonstrates the need for immediate action from your office to restore peace in the region and regain the trust of the people.”
Saikia has also flagged the issue of electioneering by BJP leaders. “Furthermore, it is disheartening to witness political campaigns taking precedence over constitutional duties. The recent election in Karnataka has raised concerns among the people, who feel that the Prime Minister and the home minister should prioritise the safety and well-being of the population instead of focusing solely on party campaigning.... In conclusion, I sincerely hope that the central government will rise above party politics and take prompt action to restore peace in Manipur,” he said.
