Congress says RSS unable to resolve Manipur crisis effectively
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived in Imphal Thursday, marking his first visit since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May 2023.
Imphal: A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived in Manipur for a three-day visit, the state Congress sharply criticised the move, saying that the involvement of the RSS would not resolve the ongoing crisis. The party argued that Manipur needs a political solution led by the government — not organisational outreach — at a time when the state continues to reel from more than a year of ethnic violence and deep social fractures.
Manipur Congress president Keisham Meghachandra Singh said the people had been expecting concrete action from the Centre, not visits that appear to “prioritise strengthening organisational growth.” Bhagwat’s visit, the Congress leader suggested, risks sending the wrong message when the state is still struggling with unprecedented displacement, social unrest and administrative breakdown.
He added that instead of addressing the humanitarian crisis and governance failures, the focus of the visit appears to be organisational strengthening. To him, the timing and intent of the tour raise questions about whether the suffering of people remains the priority.
Singh emphasised that RSS involvement alone cannot fix the Manipur crisis, which he said requires a serious government-led initiative involving political dialogue, administrative accountability and confidence-building measures across communities. “Strengthening ideological organisations will not bring peace,” he said, stressing that such efforts cannot replace the responsibilities of an elected government or the need for long-term political engagement.
Calling for empathy and sensitivity, he added, *“Manipur needs healing, not polarisation.
The remarks come at a time when Manipur continues to be under President’s Rule, imposed in February after then-Chief Minister N Biren Singh — who headed the BJP government — resigned amidst heavy criticism over his administration’s handling of the ethnic violence. The conflict, which began in May 2023, has claimed more than 260 lives, left thousands displaced and fractured relations between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
Bhagwat’s visit to Imphal, his first since the crisis began, is expected to include meetings with various social groups, community elders and RSS workers. Sources close to the RSS say the visit aims to encourage peace efforts and understand the ground situation. However, opposition leaders insist that such visits cannot replace state-led policy measures, nor can they substitute the urgent need for a concrete peace roadmap from the Centre.
Many in civil society also feel that while outreach from any organisation is welcome, what people want most is a clear and sustained plan for restoration of law and order, rehabilitation of displaced families and rebuilding trust between communities.
As Manipur completes more than a year and a half of turmoil, the debate continues over what — and who — is truly needed to restore normalcy. For now, the Congress maintains that only a committed political intervention from the government, backed by transparent administration and community dialogue, can pave the path to lasting peace.