Imphal, Feb 3: The Manipur Congress on February 3 urged the Centre to announce a special crisis package for the state, expedite rehabilitation measures and undertake large-scale reconstruction of infrastructure damaged during the prolonged ethnic violence.
Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra said the Union Budget had failed to address the gravity of the crisis in the state, which has been reeling under violence since May 3, 2023. The unrest had erupted following a tribal solidarity march in the hill districts opposing the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
Since the outbreak of violence, at least 260 people, including members of both the Kuki and Meitei communities and security personnel, have been killed, while thousands have been displaced. The state has been under President’s Rule since February last year.
Meghachandra said Manipur is facing widespread displacement, economic disruption and deep social distress, but the Union Budget did not reflect the seriousness of the situation. He alleged that no special financial package, reconstruction mission or employment roadmap had been announced to address the scale of devastation caused by the violence.
“The people expected decisive national support. Instead, what we see is silence. There has been no special package, no reconstruction mission, no employment roadmap and nothing that matches the scale of the crisis,” he said.
Stressing that Manipur was seeking responsibility rather than charity, Meghachandra warned that continued neglect of a sensitive border state could have serious implications for national unity and security. He said a country aspiring to global leadership could not afford to overlook the suffering of a state critical to its strategic interests.
Calling for immediate intervention, the Congress leader urged the Centre to announce a special crisis package, fast-track rehabilitation of displaced families, rebuild damaged infrastructure and restore livelihoods to ensure durable peace and stability.
He also questioned the Centre’s approach towards Manipur, stating that routine schemes for the Northeast cannot be portrayed as special attention in the context of an ongoing humanitarian and security crisis. What the state needs, he said, is urgency, political sensitivity and bold intervention, rather than administrative continuity.
“While the budget may appear big in numbers, for Manipur it is painfully small in intent,” Meghachandra added, urging the Centre to prioritise healing, reconstruction and inclusive growth in the violence-hit state.
