President’s rule made ‘no difference whatsoever’ in Manipur: Jairam Ramesh

Jairam Ramesh criticizes President's Rule in Manipur as Governor takes helicopter amidst protests, highlighting lack of change.

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.