Govt failed to control Manipur ethnic strife; PM Modi shows 'brazen indifference': INDIA bloc MPs

New Delhi/Imphal, July 30

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A team of 21 Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc visiting Manipur has demanded Central Government’s intervention in the state for restoration of peace and normalcy.

In a memorandum submitted to Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey, the MPs also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “silence” and said it showed Modi’s “brazen indifference” to the situation in Manipur.

Noting that a “sense of alienation” was prevalent among the affected people of the border state, the Opposition MPs urged the Governor to apprise the Central Government of the complete breakdown of law and order in Manipur and seek Central intervention in the state.

The memorandum, signed by all 21 members of the multi-party Opposition delegation visiting the trouble-torn state said, “We earnestly request you to restore peace and normalcy, taking all effective measures, where justice should be the cornerstone”.

“In order to bring peace and harmony, rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected persons is most urgent”, observed the MPs.

“You are also 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”, the memorandum urged Governor Uikey.

The 21 member team of MPs representing as many as 16 Opposition parties yesterday visited relief camps in Imphal and Moirang (housing Meitei refugess) and Churanchandpur (where Kuki refugees driven away from Mritei majority parts of the state have been given shelter). They met the Governor this morning and presented the memorandum to her before flying back to Delhi.

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 government and the Central Government 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.

While children living in the relief camps need special care, students housed in the temporary shelters are facing a bleak future, the memorandum says.

The continued Internet ban for last three months has been adding to the unsubstantiated rumours and creating further mistrust between communities, the memorandum stated.

Addressing reporters outside the Raj Bhavan in Imphal, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, “The Manipur Governor heard our observations and agreed to those. She expressed sorrow over the incidents of violence and suggested that an all-party delegation should visit Manipur to talk to people to remove mistrust among communities.”

Chowdhury said that 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,” he said.

The Opposition delegation arrived in Manipur on Saturday to assess the ground situation and meet victims of the three-month ethnic riots in the state.

On the first day of their two-day whirlwind tour, they visited several relief camps in Imphal, Moirang in Bishnupur district and Churachandpur and met victims of ethnic clashes.

Besides Chowdhury and Congress’ deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, the delegation includes TMC’s Sushmita Dev, JMM’s Mahua Maji, DMK’s Kanimozhi, Jayant Chaudhary of RLD, Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD, N K Premachandran of RSP, JD(U) chief Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, Aneel Prasad Hegde (JD-U), CPI’s P Sandosh Kumar and CPI(M)’s A A Rahim among others.

Violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, killing over 160 people since then, and injuring hundreds.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts. —with PTI