President's rule made ‘no difference whatsoever' in Manipur: Jairam Ramesh
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday (May 26, 2025) said that the imposition of President's Rule in Manipur 'appears to have made no difference whatsoever', saying that Governor Ajay Bhalla 'had to take a helicopter' to reach his residence amidst protests on Monday.
The Governor was returning to Manipur on Monday (May 26, 2025) from New Delhi even as protests were on along the road to Airport in Imphal.
A police official told The Hindu on Monday (May 26, 2025) that the Governor was taken to his residence by chopper as there were protesters, including women and children, on the route. In a post on X on Monday (May 26, 2025), Mr. Ramesh, Congress' general secretary (communications), said, 'President's Rule appears to have made no difference whatsoever in Manipur. Today the Governor had to take a helicopter from the airport in Imphal to Kangla Fort in order to reach his residence. Meanwhile, the PM is busy giving filmi dialogues in different parts of the country and politicising Operation Sindoor while continuing to ignore Manipur.'
He added, 'The Union Home Minister has failed most miserably and should resign for his total failure to bring a semblance of normalcy in Manipur, which he has been managing.'
Manipur was put under President's Rule in February 2025 after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh stepped down.
On Sunday (May 25, 2025) too, protesters marched towards Raj Bhawan after a valley-based civil society organisation, Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity, called for a protest over an incident in which security forces allegedly covered up the word 'Manipur' on a State government bus taking journalists on a visit to Ukhrul district for the Shirui Lily festival.
The protesters' march to the Raj Bhawan was met with action by security forces, and in the ensuing scuffle, five protesters were injured.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
30 minutes ago
- The Print
Tharoor-Congress feud sparks buzz in his Thiruvananthapuram constituency, unease in party unit
While Tharoor continues to make waves within the Congress Modi government's efforts at political diplomacy, voters in his Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency—where he has won four consecutive terms—still appreciate his independent voice. But within the local Congress unit, there is caution, with some leaders uneasy about him speaking against the party line. The Congress leader's remarks in Panama last week were slammed by Congress leader Udit Raj, who publicly accused Tharoor of disparaging the party's 'golden history' and provocatively suggested he should be the 'BJP's super spokesperson'. Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor calling India's 2016 surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) a 'first' has drawn sharp criticism from within the Congress, since it contradicts the party's position that similar strikes occurred under UPA. Back in his constituency of Thiruvananthapuram, though, the comment has generated a different kind of buzz. Voters and local Congress leaders are watching Tharoor's moves closely—while some admire his individual appeal, others interpret the remark as a sign of his growing national ambitions and political recalibration. A local Congress functionary, who wished to not be named, said Tharoor's 'continuous praise for Modi has put the party in a difficult position with the public'. 'He can't continue praising Modi. It's making it difficult for us here as people question us on why the leaders are praising the BJP.' The functionary added that while the party has instructed its members not to speak against Tharoor, he should also be mindful and ideally raise internal disagreements within the party. Tharoor's relationship with the Congress party has soured in the past weeks due to his public deviations from official party stances. He has repeatedly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, most recently endorsing India's military response, 'Operation Sindoor', after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, saying it was 'well done'. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, though, swiftly clarified that Tharoor's statements did 'not reflect the party's stance'. Ramesh later also accused the Centre of playing 'cheap political games' by selecting Tharoor to lead an all-party delegation to explain India's position on the conflict with Pakistan, especially since the Congress had provided four MP names for consideration, and the Centre still chose him even though he wasn't on the list. Earlier, Tharoor had also drawn criticism from party leaders over his 2-day visit and meeting with US President Donald Trump, which he maintained was 'good for India', even as his colleagues were vocally attacking the Indian government over the repatriation of Indians from the US. However, despite some local resentment over his long absences, the functionary quoted above noted that Tharoor continues to win because voters ultimately want the Congress to remain in power. Also read: Shashi Tharoor's loyalty keeps colliding with Congress scepticism—while his global stature grows Changing perceptions, declining margins Tharoor has held the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency, which encompasses seven Assembly segments, since 2009, but recent electoral trends indicate a discernible weakening of his support base. His victory margins, close to one lakh in both 2009 and 2019, dropped considerably in 2014 and, more recently, in 2024 to just 16,077 votes against BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar. ThePrint visited three Assembly segments within the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency—Kovalam and Neyyattinkara, where Tharoor had leads of over 15,000 votes, and the Thiruvananthapuram Assembly segment, where he led by over 4,000 votes—to understand the sentiment among local Congress workers and voters. Voters largely expressed admiration for Tharoor's 'non-partisan' views but also noted his frequent absences from the constituency and the prevalent factionalism within Congress. Stanley, a 51-year-old resident of Vizhinjam in the traditional Congress stronghold of Kovalam, believes Tharoor'is speaking the truth'and that his knowledge and education drive his statements. Stanley feels the party isn't recognising Tharoor enough, prompting him to voice his dissent. He views the current tussle as a minor part of larger infighting within the party. Shubha V., 44, also a resident of Vizhinjam, similarly said Tharoor has a 'good name and reputation, which has created the perception that he might be right'. A local fisherman in Vizhinjam, 50-year-old Abilis George, too, feels the ongoing disagreement is 'just a result of the Congress's internal fight'. 'The Congress is hugely divided. They don't have any consensus on a stand. We can't blame Tharoor for that,' he added. However, Antony S., a 42-year-old Congress supporter from Kovalam who has campaigned for Tharoor in past elections, including in 2024, expressed regret at voting him in again. 'It was a mistake to re-elect him. He hasn't done anything here,' he said. He added that he voted for him to secure a win for the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, and finds Tharoor's praise for the BJP disheartening. He emphasised that Tharoor's votes are largely 'party votes' and that he 'can't win without a party'. Nandakumar, a 54-year-old grocery store owner in Neyyattinkara, appreciated Tharoor as 'a good person and a global citizen', but urged him to consider his voters. 'He is hoping to get more power and position in the BJP, it seems. But he should stay with the party's policies. Without the Congress, he will not win,' said Nandakumar. He added that Tharoor's votes have significantly reduced due to his perceived poor performance as an MP. Sudheer M., a 53-year-old auto driver in the same town, feels Tharoor is being unfairly targeted. 'It looks like the Congress is throwing him out. He is just saying what is true.' Another resident of Neyyattinkara, 74-year-old Somasekharan Nair, said Tharoor has never praised the PM blindly, he is only 'admitting to the good deeds of other politicians'. Nair added that it seemed like Tharoor wanted to join the BJP. 'It looks like he is not satisfied with his position in the Congress. But it's not right to show it openly,' he said. Younger voters, like 39-year-old Shyamjith M. and 24-year-old Sudhin Gokul S., view Tharoor as a well-meaning intellectual who 'speaks beyond politics', while the Congress's reaction to him has been 'political'. Gokul noted a shift in Tharoor's votes to Chandrasekhar in 2024, as people saw the latter as an 'equal alternative'. In Thiruvananthapuram city, too, voters had mixed reactions. Shaji H., a resident of Thiruvananthapuram's Balaramapuram, said that though Tharoor is a good MP, the backing of the Congress is important for his victory from the constituency. He, too, said that Tharoor's recent activities suggested he was interested in joining the BJP. 'His individual support is decreasing here. If he goes to the BJP. He will not win,' he said. Congress functionaries feel 'betrayed' While the public expressed a mixed reaction, local Congress functionaries largely agree that Tharoor's victory is primarily due to the party's influence rather than his charisma. A party functionary in Vizhinjam and another in Neyyattinkara said that while Tharoor's international stature helped, 'the votes came for Rahul Gandhi and INC'. In Kovalam, too, functionaries consistently believe Tharoor's success is party-driven. One such functionary in Kovalam's Mokkola said Tharoor was able to win despite his absence from the constituency because of the coastal community's support for the Congress, and the perception that Tharoor's victory was due to his votes is wrong. 'First term, he performed well. But now there's a distance from Congress workers. People here vote for the party symbol, not him,' he said. The leader said that Tharoor's continuous praise of the BJP is a 'bad mistake'. 'It's local Congress functionaries who worked for his victory. He is doing a one-man show to get claps beyond party lines. It looks like he wants to show he can do a lot even without the support of the party.' he said. 'But it's not true.' (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also read: After Tharoor, Congress now has a Salman Khurshid problem as ex-minister lauds Article 370 abrogation
Deccan Herald
33 minutes ago
- Deccan Herald
'Received unconditional solidarity in India's fight against terrorism': Tharoor on outreach
"By and large, we seem to have received in all five countries, including the US, unconditional solidarity in our fight against terrorism and complete understanding of why Operation Sindoor was necessary, said Shashi Tharoor.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
Everyone should support whatever is in the national interest: Salman Khurshid
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, who was part of an all-party parliamentary delegation on an 'Operation Sindoor' diplomatic outreach mission, has said that anything done in the national interest should be supported by all, regardless of political affiliations. In an interview with IANS, Khurshid addressed criticism from within his party regarding the ongoing diplomatic initiative and emphasised the importance of unity when representing the country abroad. He said that if you have to go outside the country and speak for your nation, is it easy or difficult? And if someone is doing so, why should there be any objection? His remarks come shortly after his post on social media platform X on Monday, where he expressed dismay over domestic political divisions while he was abroad on a mission against terrorism. "When on a mission to carry India's message to the world in the fight against terrorism, it's distressing that people at home are calculating political allegiances. Is it so difficult to be patriotic?' he had posted during the delegation's visit to Kuala Lumpur. Excerpts from the interview: IANS: You were part of the all-party delegation. How successful do you consider the outreach? Salman Khurshid: I consider it very successful. The goal was to engage with multiple countries and urge them to go beyond expressing sympathy - to take concrete steps against terrorism. Terrorism affects not only India but also many other nations. We emphasised the need for global cooperation in fighting this menace, and the response was encouraging. IANS: What would you like to say about your post on X where you asked, "Is it so difficult to be patriotic?" What were you referring to? Salman Khurshid: That's exactly what I'm asking. And I'm not getting an answer. If someone has to go abroad and speak for the country, is that difficult or easy? If someone is doing it, why should there be a problem? I don't think it's a bad thing—I think it's a good thing. So, whatever is in the interest of the country, I believe everyone should support it. IANS: Despite calling the outreach a success, your own party has raised questions. Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said, "While terrorists are roaming freely, so are our MPs." How do you respond? Salman Khurshid: Jairam Ramesh is right - we were indeed travelling. But if we hadn't been travelling, we would have been sitting idle. I've already communicated our efforts and achievements to both my party and the government. Let me be clear: I was sent by the Congress; I didn't go on my own. I'm grateful for the opportunity and hopeful that the party will recognise the value of our work. IANS: You praised the abrogation of Article 370 during your speech in Indonesia. What do you want to say about this? Salman Khurshid: Why are you asking me about that? I don't live in Jammu and Kashmir, though I do visit occasionally. Whether it was right or wrong is a matter of ongoing public debate. However, there is a real issue of statehood, and elected representatives are demanding its restoration. If we can be united in supporting that demand, it would be better for everyone. IANS: What is your view on Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi's 'Narendra Surrender' remark? Salman Khurshid: Rahul Gandhi is absolutely right, and I support him. I am a member of the Congress party and take leadership directions from him. If others want to interpret my loyalty or position differently, they may do so. But I'm clear on where I stand. IANS: The BJP claims that Rahul Gandhi's "Narendra Surrender" comment is being used by Pakistani media to further anti-India propaganda. They argue that even Pakistan hasn't used such harsh terms. What's your take? Salman Khurshid: Frankly, I don't care what Pakistan says. I oppose everything they've done to promote terrorism. My only interest is in ensuring India gives a strong and clear message to Pakistan so that such behaviour is never repeated. I don't watch Pakistani TV—there are enough Indian news channels to keep me informed.
