New Delhi: Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attended a farewell programme for Chongtam Vikram Singh, a 54-year-old classical and folk musician originally from Manipur, who was brutally murdered inside his Delhi home on September 4.
Speaking at the event, Gandhi said Singh had been specifically targeted simply because of his Manipur origins. "Vikram was targeted only because he came from Manipur," Gandhi told the gathering. "The murder of a young man is a tragedy in itself. At the same time, an attack on a person because of their identity and where they come from is also deeply worrying."
Singh, known for his contributions to Manipuri folk music and cultural preservation, was attacked inside his residence in Delhi by six individuals who broke into the house. He sustained severe injuries during the assault and was later pronounced dead. The incident has drawn widespread attention to the vulnerability of migrant communities from the northeastern states in metropolitan cities.
The Manipur crisis, which began in May 2023 over demands for Scheduled Tribe status and has involved violent clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, has had ripple effects across India. Thousands of displaced Manipuris have sought refuge in other states, including Delhi, where they often face social and economic precarity. This incident has reignited concerns about the safety and dignity of displaced persons from the region living outside their homeland.
Gandhi's appearance at the tribute programme underscored the political weight given to the case, with opposition leaders using the incident to highlight what they describe as a growing climate of intolerance and ethnic targeting across the country. Details about the investigation, arrest of suspects, and legal proceedings are yet to be fully disclosed by authorities.
