Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the devastating floods in the North-East and the fresh outbreak of violence in Manipur. They accused the Centre of failing to deliver on its promise to make the region flood-free and of maintaining a deafening silence as the ethnic conflict in Manipur continued to escalate even after the imposition of President's Rule.
Kharge slams 'double-engine' failure on floods
In a statement, Kharge expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives and widespread destruction caused by floods and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Sikkim. “The devastating floods and landslides in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Sikkim have claimed precious lives and left thousands of families displaced and devastated,” he said, offering condolences to the bereaved families and solidarity with those affected.
Targeting the BJP's so-called 'double-engine' governments—both at the Centre and in the states—Kharge alleged that repeated assurances to make the North-Eastern states flood-free had failed to materialise. “All the tall promises by ‘double-engine’ NDA governments to the people of the North-East to make their states ‘flood-free’ have disappeared in thin air, even as floods have become a regular annual feature with little preparedness and scarce long-term mitigation efforts,” he charged.
Demand for PM CARES fund utilisation
Kharge urged the Modi government to immediately utilise the PM CARES Fund to provide compensation, rehabilitation and relief to affected families. He stressed that the situation could not be treated as another routine disaster. Appreciating the efforts of the armed forces, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) engaged in rescue operations, he called for deploying additional personnel, resources and financial assistance to strengthen relief operations and rebuild damaged infrastructure. He also directed Congress leaders and workers to assist victims in flood-affected areas.
Rahul Gandhi condemns fresh Manipur violence
Separately, Rahul Gandhi criticised the Centre over reports that at least 20 houses had been burnt in fresh violence in Manipur. “Manipur has been burning for years, and today again, 20 homes have been reduced to ashes in the fire of hatred and violence,” Gandhi said. He added that despite the presence of both the Centre and the state government, and the imposition of President's Rule, the conflict was continuing to deepen. “Today, not just Manipur but the entire country has given up hope of even two words of empathy from the Prime Minister, let alone any action,” he remarked.
Background of the crises
The remarks come amid widespread damage caused by heavy rainfall, cloudbursts and flash floods in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in Keyi Panyor district, where multiple casualties have been reported in recent days. The floods have affected thousands of families across the four states, with many losing their homes and livelihoods. In Manipur, the ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities, which erupted in May 2023, has continued sporadically, with over 200 people killed and thousands displaced. The imposition of President's Rule in February 2025 has not brought peace, and the latest arson underscores the fragility of the situation.
