'PM MODI SHOULD PAY HEED TO BHAGWAT'S ADVICE ON MANIPUR': OPPOSITION

Leaders of the Congress and other opposition parties on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should pay heed to the "advice" of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and visit Manipur which has seen violence for over a year now, a day after Bhagwat said the situation in the strife-torn state must be considered a priority.

While Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Bhagwat can perhaps prevail upon the "former RSS office-bearer" to go to the northeastern state, independent MP Kapil Sibal said it is "not in the DNA" of the prime minister to listen to the advice of the opposition but he should pay attention to the words of the RSS chief.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said Bhagwat has aired his concerns a bit too late and claimed that the prime minister has maintained "silence" on every crisis including Manipur.

Asked about RSS chief's concerns about Manipur, the RJD leader said, "He has been too late in speaking out."

"The prime minister, on his part, has merely kept silent on every crisis, be it violence in that state, or protests by farmers and female wrestlers in Delhi," he said.

Manipur plunged into violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in May last year. Since then some 200 people have been killed, while thousands have been displaced following largescale arson that has gutted homes and government buildings. Fresh violence has been reported from Jiribam over the past few days.