Chidambaram Takes On Himanta, Asks Him Not To ‘Poke His Nose' Into Manipur Conflict

NEW DELHI: Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday took a dig at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, taking him on for his recent remarks regarding the situation in Manipur, which he said will improve within 7 to 10 days.

Chidambaram went on the offensive to say that it would help matters if the BJP leader and Assam CM does not "poke his nose" into the ongoing conflict in Manipur and stayed away from it. The former Congress home minister also stated his assertion that it would be of help if Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh relinquished his post as the CM and imposition of President's Rule in the northeastern state was done for a few months.

Himanta Biswa Sarma had remarked on Saturday said the volatile situation in the neighbouring state of Manipur will see improvement within 7-10 days, as the state and central governments were working "silently" to restore peace in the violence-hit state.

CM Sarma had also taken a swipe at the Congress, alleging that the opposition party is displaying its concern at a time when "relative peace has come in the northeastern state".

Congress leader and its former president Rahul Gandhi had visited Manipur recently to take stock of the situation there up close. He had been barred by police from travelling by road beyond a certain point and had to use a chopper.

Rahul Gandhi had also slammed PM Modi over his silence over the Manipur ethnic violence and instead opting to address election rallies.

Chidambaram took to Twitter to say, "CM, Assam has promised that peace will return to Manipur in a week. It will help if CM, Assam did not poke his nose into Manipur's conflict and stayed away."

"It will also help if Mr Biren Singh resigned as CM and President's Rule was imposed for a few months," Chidambaram added.

Sarma, who is also the convenor of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Dibrugarh on Saturday that, "The situation in Manipur is improving day by day. I am of the view that in the next one week to 10 days, there will be more improvement."

Himanta Biswa Sarma had then claimed that "a lot of improvement" has been seen in Manipur in the course of the past month.

Since clashes first broke out in Manipur on May 3, the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities has claimed more than 100 lives, with tens of thousands displaced.

Also Read: Manipur Violence: Three Killed In Latest Militant Attack in Bishnupur District

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