Opposition leaders slam BJP over death of Manipuri musician in Delhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (September 8) hit out at the Modi government over the death of a Manipuri musician who was allegedly beaten by a group of men in Delhi, questioning what Home Minister Amit Shah’s ministry and the Delhi police were doing to check what he called “growing lawlessness”, particularly against people from the Northeast.

Rahul questions law and order

“Chongtham Vikram Singhji, a renowned musician from Manipur, went downstairs to ask some men to lower the noise outside his home. He was beaten to death for it,” Rahul said on X. A father, killed outside his own home, in his own country’s capital, he said.

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“After many such incidents, every Northeast family in Delhi is asking the same question today - are we safe here?” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.

“What are Shah’s MHA and Delhi police doing to stop this growing lawlessness, especially against people from the Northeast?” Rahul said. There must be a swift investigation, and the culprits must be brought to justice, he asserted and expressed condolences to Vikram’s family.

Kharge, Kejriwal attack BJP

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge described the alleged killing of Manipuri musician Chongtham Vikram Singh as a “chilling reminder” of what he called the “utter lawlessness under the BJP”.

Kharge alleged that students were unsafe, women faced atrocities and people from the Northeast faced discrimination, while Dalits, Adivasis and minorities remained “highly vulnerable”.

Under Home Minister Amit Shah’s watch, Delhi had become a “crime capital”, Kharge claimed, citing NCRB data which he said showed the national capital recording the highest levels of crime year after year. He also alleged that the “incompetence of the Modi Sarkar” had left people from Manipur suffering both within the state and outside it.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said, “This is extremely unfortunate. Forget taking swift and exemplary action against guilty, often the accused belong to their own party and the entire machinery starts protecting the guilty. A common citizen is now finding himself helpless against their party and government.”

Students’ body seeks justice

The North East Students Society, Delhi University (NESSDU) condoled Singh’s death and described him as a “respected Manipuri musician”.

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C Vikram Singh, a 54-year-old Manipuri musician, died after a group of delivery workers and dhaba staff allegedly assaulted him when he objected to their shouting and drinking alcohol outside his Kilokari village apartment early Monday, officials said. Police arrested seven men and apprehended one juvenile in the case.

The Sunlight Colony police station received a PCR call regarding the beating of Singh, who has been residing in Kilokari village for several years.