PM has energy for foreign trips, can he not summon 'empathy' for visiting Manipur: Cong

New Delhi: Congress on Sunday targeted Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur as he headed for his 35th foreign trip after ethnic violence erupted in the north-eastern state in May 2023, saying he has “all the energy, excitement, and enthusiasm – the 3 Es – for such visits” but has not summoned up a “4th E – empathy –” to visit the people in distress and agony.

Modi headed for a three-nation tour to Cyprus, Canada and Croatia in the morning after saying that he will be attending the upcoming G7 Summit in Canada, which will provide space for exchanging views on pressing global issues and the priorities of the Global South.

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said this is Modi’s 35th trip abroad since May 2023 and it was “pathetic” of the Prime Minister to “treat Manipur in this awful manner”.

Ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on 3 May, 2023 and with the conflict continuing, the government has imposed President’s Rule in the state.

“There was a time when he boasted about his knowledge of algebra by spouting the (a+b)^2 equation as applicable to India and Canada. But things went horribly wrong thereafter. When it appeared that Canada was dragging its feet on the invite to India, Modi's drum beaters proclaimed that he would not go even if invited. But like always, he stands exposed,” Ramesh said.

He also shared a video clip of Modi from 2015 in which he is heard giving the mathematical analogy to demonstrate the relationship between India and Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said that India has been invited to the G7 Summit along with a number of other non-G7 countries because India is the fifth largest economy in the world, he said adding, “perhaps Modi can remind him that according to the Niti Aayog CEO, India became the world's third largest economy on 24 May, 2025.”

“This is Modi's 35th trip abroad since May 2023. He has all the energy, excitement, and enthusiasm--the 3 Es-- for such visits. But can he not summon up a 4th E--empathy-- for going to Manipur where the people's distress, agony and suffering continues unabated? He has met with nobody from the state, let alone political leaders, since 3 May, 2023. Pathetic of the PM to treat Manipur in this awful manner,” he added.