Manipur Congress leaders have written to Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the All India Congress Committee, to demand action against senior Congress politician P Chidambaram for his social media post advocating for regional autonomy for the state’s many ethnic communities.
In a now deleted post on X, Chidambaram had stated that deploying 5000 more CAPF personnel “is not the answer”. He wrote that instead: “It is more wisdom: acknowledging that Mr Biren Singh, the chief minister, is the cause of the crisis and removing him immediately. It is more understanding: that the Meitei, the Kuki-Zo and the Naga can live together in one State only if they have genuine regional autonomy. It is more statesmanship: for the Hon’ble PM to give up his obstinacy, visit Manipur, and speak to the people of Manipur with humility and learn first-hand their grievances and aspirations.”
Ten Manipur Congress officials, including current MLAs, previous ministers, and former Manipur Congress presidents, wrote to Kharge requesting that Chidambaram remove the job. This request partially supports Kuki-Zo factions’ demand for distinct autonomy for their respective areas.
They said in the letter that they had called a meeting to talk about the issue. “In the meeting, we unanimously condemned the content of Shri P Chidambaram’s recent post on X concerning the Manipur crisis. The post contains language and sentiments that are highly inappropriate during this hour of heightened tension, public grief, and public sensitivity in Manipur. Congress party always stands for the unity and territorial integrity of the state of Manipur. We request AICC for prompt appropriate action against Shri P Chidambaram for his post today and direct him to delete it immediately,” states the letter.
Before Chidambaram deleted his post, Manipur Congress Chief K Meghachandra had commented under it: “Please delete it. Manipur is in turmoil situation. It is very sensitive.”
Okram Ibobu Singh, a Congress leader and former chief minister of Manipur, also disassociated the state unit from Chidambaram’s remarks on Tuesday, claiming that they were his own personal views.
“This is purely his own view and immediately when we saw his tweet… we informed Mallikarjun Kharge ji and he immediately called all senior leaders. I also personally spoke to Kharge ji that this may be his (Chidambaram’s) personal view but there will be a lot of misunderstanding in the state of Manipur… Immediately Kharge ji spoke to him… immediately he deleted it… We have already informed AICC for appropriate action and I will speak to him not to create such a type of statement for Manipur,” he said.
Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh had also lashed out at Chidambaram, alleging that the seeds of the conflict were laid by Chidambaram by entering a Suspension of Operation agreement with the Zomi Revolutionary Army in 2008.
