New Delhi/Guwahati
Maintaining they would take up their assessment of Manipur’s ground situation in Parliament, the Opposition grouping which returned to the national capital after their 2-day visit to the strife-torn State on Sunday demanded the Central Government’s intervention and a visit by an all-party delegation, that could be led by the Prime Minister, for restoration of peace and normalcy.
The MPs representing as many as 16 Opposition parties had on Saturday visited relief camps in Imphal and Moirang (housing Meitei refugess) and Churanchandpur (where Kuki refugees driven away from Meitei majority parts of the State have been given shelter).
Before returning, the 21 Opposition MPs from the I.N.D.I.A bloc submitted a signed memorandum to Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey.
“You are requested to apprise the Union Government of the complete breakdown of law and order in Manipur for the last 89 days so as to enable them to intervene in the precarious situation in Manipur and restore peace and normalcy. In order to bring peace and harmony, rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected persons is most urgent,” the memorandum stated.
Describing the condition of the relief camps as pathetic, the memorandum said that the signatories were very sad and shocked to hear the stories of anxieties, uncertainties, pains and sorrow of individuals affected by the ethnic violence going on in the state since May 3. “There is an anger and a sense of alienation among all communities which has to be addressed without delay”, the memorandum noted.
According to the memorandum, the failure of the State and Central Governments to protect life and properties of the people is evident from the fact that more than 140 people were killed, more than 500 were injured and over 60,000 people have been displaced in the ongoing riots.
They also pointed out the continued internet ban for last three months, which added to unsubstantiated rumours and created further mistrust between communities.
Addressing reporters outside the Raj Bhavan in Imphal, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “The Manipur Governor heard our observations and agreed to those. The visiting MPs will present their observations on Manipur in Parliament. We have requested a discussion on Manipur in Parliament as the situation is deteriorating every day.”
Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “In the meeting with the Governor, we suggested that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, an all-India all-party delegation come here. This is what we have been suggesting since the first day. But the PM is missing. His ministers are giving statements while sitting in Delhi. They should visit Manipur to see the ground reality there”
In their memorandum, the MPs questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “silence” and said it showed Modi’s “brazen indifference” to the situation in Manipur.
DMK MP Kanimozhi, who was also a part of the delegation, said, “We will ask for a debate and we want to tell the government what we have seen. People even want delegation of all party leaders to visit there (Manipur) and see what is happening. There must be peace talks, that’s the only way out.”
For his part while JD (U) MP Lallan Singh said there is a sense of insecurity and lack of confidence in the two communities which lack confidence in the State Government, IUML MP E.T. Mohammed Basheer said “In brief, what we are saying is – the situation there is really hellish. We will consolidate all our findings and submit them and we will make use of them in the Parliament discussions”.
JMM MP Mahua Maji said, “We will have a meeting at the Parliament tomorrow after which we will decide the next course of action.”
