New Delhi
The Congress on Monday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit violence-hit Manipur to listen to the “agony of the people there” and in the event of his inability to do so, President Droupadi Murmu should make efforts to help bring peace and normalcy in the troubled State.
The Congress also asked the Prime Minister to break his “silence” on the situation in the northeastern State so as to send a message of goodwill.
At the same time, the Congress demanded that the Prime Minister allow an all-party delegation to visit Manipur to help restore peace even as in fresh violence, three persons were injured in a gunfight between village volunteers and a group of militants at Khamenlok area situated on the border of Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts of violence hit Manipur.
The three were admitted to a hospital in Imphal where the condition of one is stated to be critical. Sporadic firing continued for some time, as additional forces were sent there to bring the situation under control, police said.
Urging the Prime Minister to visit the northeastern State to listen to the “agony of the people there”, the Congress demanded that if Modi is unable to visit the border state, President Droupadi Murmu should make efforts to help bring peace and normalcy in Manipur.
“The Congress party demands that the prime minister should break his silence and visit Manipur at the earliest to make all efforts to restore trust in the administration and bring normalcy in the state,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told reporters.
“The Congress demands that a national all-party delegation should be allowed to go to Manipur to visit all the affected areas and meet all stakeholders,” he said at a press conference.
Grappling to bring the law and order situation under full control in Manipur, the Centre on Saturday sent Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to the strife-torn State apparently “with a message” for his counterpart N Biren Singh.
Sarma, who is also the North East Democratic Alliance’s convenor, flew down from Guwahati carrying a message from Delhi over the prevailing scenario in the State. Following the meeting, Sarma said he will report to Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the ongoing situation in the strife-torn state.
“During my stay here, I met the honourable Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues, our party leaders and civil society organisations. For us, peace and stability in Manipur are very, very important. Whatever I have learnt during the day, I will report the same to the honourable Union Home Minister for further necessary actions,” Sarma told reporters.
Sporadic incidents of violence, which started on May 3 following a Tribal Solidarity March protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, continue to shatter Manipur’s peace. Kuki and Meitei insurgents have, of late, been targeting security personnel and killing civilians from opposite sides.
So far, over 100 people have lost their lives and over 300 injured ever since the ethnic violence broke out over a month ago.
