Jairam Ramesh Slams PM Modi for Silence on Ratan Thiyam’s Death, Calls It ‘Insult to Manipur'

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused PM Modi of showing “insensitivity” by not offering condolences on the death of cultural icon Ratan Thiyam, calling it an “insult to the people of Manipur.”

New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday lambasted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not extending condolences after Ratan Thiyam, one of the most prominent cultural personalities of India, died in Manipur's Imphal on July 23.  He labelled the action of PM Modi as "insensitive and insulting to the people of Manipur".

"Ratan Thiyam, one of India's greatest cultural personalities whose contributions have been recognised all over the world, has just passed away in Imphal. All of Manipur has saluted him. Sadly, the PM does not find it appropriate to extend his condolences even through a post on X. This is not only another instance of his insensitivity, but is also an insult to the people of Manipur," Ramesh posted on X.  Thiyam was an Indian playwright and theatre director. He won the renowned Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987.

Ramesh called out the Prime Minister for not "finding time" to visit Manipur ever since the violence erupted in the northeast state and accused him of avoiding meetings with political leaders and civil society organisations "Since May 3, 2023, when Manipur erupted and the extreme distress, pain, and agony of the people there began, the Prime Minister has not found the time nor has he shown any inclination to visit the state. For the past 26 months, he has also totally avoided meeting political leaders and civil society organisations of Manipur," Ramesh said.

On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave a statutory resolution to extend the already imposed President's rule in Manipur till February 13, 2026, which was admitted by the Rajya Sabha. "That this House approves the continuance in force of the Proclamation dated February 13, 2025, in respect of Manipur, issued under article 356 of the Constitution by the President, for a further period of six months with effect from August 13, 2025," the Rajya Sabha Parliamentary Bulletin stated.

The centre imposed President's rule in Manipur on February 13, days after N Biren Singh resigned from his position as the Chief Minister on February 9. This comes months after 25 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs met at the residence of party MLA Thongam Biswajit Singh in Imphal to push for the formation of a popular government in Manipur.

On May 28, nearly 10 MLAs, including eight from the BJP, one from the National People's Party (NPP), and one Independent MLA, met Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal to stake a claim to form a government in the state. In February, President Droupadi Murmu imposed President's rule in Manipur after receiving a report from the state governor. Singh resigned amid violence and political instability that had plagued the state for nearly two years. The decision, exercised under Article 356 of the Constitution, means that the president will now directly control the state's administrative functions through the Governor.