Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his ongoing visit to Japan and his upcoming trip to China, accusing him of neglecting the violence-hit state of Manipur.

In a post on social media platform X, Ramesh said that while the Prime Minister continued his frequent foreign travels, the people of Manipur were still waiting for him to visit the state and address their suffering. He alleged that Modi had “washed his hands off Manipur” and refused to engage with political leaders, civil society groups, and the people.

Ramesh also expressed concern over India’s relations with China, claiming that the country was being forced to “normalize” ties largely on Beijing’s terms. He recalled the Prime Minister’s June 2020 statement denying border intrusions, saying it weakened India’s negotiating position and led to the current situation.

Meanwhile, PM Modi, who was welcomed by the Indian diaspora in Tokyo earlier today, is undertaking his first standalone visit to Japan in nearly seven years to strengthen bilateral ties. After Japan, he will head to Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.