PR regime has failed to restore normalcy : Cong leader

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 5: Even after months of President's Rule, the BJP-led Government in the Centre has failed to resolve the Manipur conflict. Holding a fresh election to form a popular Government would be the right path toward resolving the conflict, said Congress leader Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka today.
He said this while speaking to reporters at Congress Bhavan, Imphal today.
The MP who is the Congress' in-charge of Manipur, asserted that the State Assembly must now be dissolved to hold fresh elections in the State.
The BJP, despite having the majority in the State Assembly, is unable to form a popular Government. Even after the President's Rule has been imposed for months now, the Centre has failed to resolve the crisis, Saptagiri said.
To resolve the conflict and bring about peace, the State Assembly must be dissolved and fresh elections must be held to elect a new Government, he said.
The Congress leader further asserted that the recent visit of the Prime Minister to the State has had no impact and it has not helped resolve the conflict.
Even after the Prime Minister's visit, normalcy has not returned to Manipur, and thousands of displaced people are still languishing in relief camps unable to return to their original homes and villages, he said.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Manipur on September 13, 2025. It was his first visit to the State since the conflict broke out in May 2023.
"The people had belief that the Prime Minister's visit would help resolve the crisis and facilitate return of the IDPs to their original villages. However, this did not happen. The conflict has not been resolved, and the IDPs are still suffering in the relief camps," Saptagiri said.
The right path now would be to hold fresh elections in the State, he reiterated.
Briefing media persons, Saptagiri also spoke against the Modi Government changing names of institutions and schemes.
By replacing MGN-REGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) with VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act), the Modi Government has insulted Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, Saptagiri said.
Like the Farm Laws it introduced and repealed after massive protests by farmers, the Modi Government would be forced to repeal 'VB-G RAM G' that has insulted Mahatma Gandhi and "undermined" the Constitution, he said.
Congress is launching a 45-day Nationwide protest under the banner MGNREGA Bachao Sangram from January 10 to February 25 demanding immediate withdrawal and repeal of the new Act, Saptagiri said.
The MGNREGA guarantees work and provides livelihood to rural people. The 'VB-G RAM G' on the other hand provides no legal guarantees like MGNREGA. It has also diluted the power of Gram Sabha and Panchayats, he claimed.
On the other hand,  the Centre's share of the total fund under MGNREGA was 90 percent and that of the State was 10 percent.
Under the VB-G RAM G, the Centre's share has been reduced to 60 percent, and State's share has been hiked to 40 percent. This will without a doubt put a burden on the States, Saptagiri said. He called on Congress workers and people to support the MGNREGA Bachao Sangram.
Many Congress leaders attended the press meet.