New Delhi: Congress leader Pawan Khera criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his meeting with the Kapoor family to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor. In a social media post, now deleted, Khera commented that the Prime Minister misunderstood calls to visit violence-hit Manipur as a suggestion to meet actor Kareena Kapoor.

“Hum toh boley the Manipur, woh samajh baithe Kareena Kapoor (we said Manipur, he thought Kareena Kapoor),” Khera remarked.

During the meeting with the Kapoor family, PM Modi encouraged them to produce a documentary celebrating Raj Kapoor’s contributions to Indian cinema. He highlighted Raj Kapoor’s global influence, especially in Central Asia, as a pioneer of India's cultural soft power long before the term became widespread.

"Can we create something, maybe a film, to capture Raj Kapoor's deep impact on Central Asia and reconnect it with the younger generation? His legacy offers a significant opportunity to build cultural bridges," the Prime Minister suggested.

Kareena Kapoor later expressed her family’s gratitude for the interaction, sharing on social media: "We are deeply humbled and honoured to have been invited by the Honourable Prime Minister to celebrate our grandfather’s legacy.” The Kapoor family also invited PM Modi to attend the Raj Kapoor Film Festival, scheduled from December 13 to 15 across 101 cinemas in 34 cities, organized by PVR INOX Limited and the Film Heritage Foundation.

Khera’s critique followed ongoing demands by opposition parties for the Prime Minister to visit Manipur, which has faced ethnic violence since May last year. Clashes between the Meitei community of the Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo groups from the hill regions have resulted in over 250 deaths and left thousands homeless. The violence began after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' opposing the Meiteis’ demand for Scheduled Tribe status.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi accused the government of failing to address the humanitarian crisis in Manipur. He alleged that instead of finding solutions, the government was escalating tensions by deploying paramilitary forces and enforcing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). Gogoi also questioned when PM Modi would visit the state.

The BJP, however, countered by accusing the Congress of aligning with Kuki-Zo organizations. BJP general secretary K. Sharatkumar alleged that a letter from the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council to Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi demonstrated the party’s support for a proposed Kuki Political Solution Bill to create a separate Union Territory for Kuki-Zo people.