New Delhi (Agency):On Wednesday, leaders from INDIA, an opposition bloc in India, met with President Droupadi Murmu. They requested her assistance to ensure government accountability for the current situation in Manipur. The opposition also pushed for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Parliament on the issue.
The opposition leaders insisted that the Prime Minister visit the state, which has been grappling with violence for the past three months. They asked Modi to urge the conflicting communities to cease violence and promote peace. These 31 leaders also discussed the tension in Haryana’s Nuh with the President. They claimed that the central government had not taken sufficient interest in the problems occurring just a short distance from the Prime Minister’s Office.
After their meeting with the President, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed the media. He mentioned that the delegation included MPs who had recently visited Manipur and had first-hand experience of the situation. Kharge claimed that more than 5,000 houses had been burned, over 200 people had died, and more than 500 had been injured in Manipur’s violence. Furthermore, 60,000 people had been displaced due to the conflict.
The Congress chief also said the rehabilitation camps for those affected were lacking in proper living conditions and medical facilities. He stated that their main demand was for the Prime Minister to address and visit Manipur, outlining steps for restoring peace and providing relief to the state’s citizens.
In a memorandum to the President, the opposition called for swift intervention to restore peace in the state. They said that accountability for the past 92 days of devastation should be determined and both Union and state governments must provide justice for the affected communities.
The delegation stated that the President’s support and intervention were crucial for easing the suffering of Manipur’s people. They asked for her help to address the extraordinary situation in the state as soon as possible.
Later, Kharge confirmed that the President had agreed to consider their memorandum and demands. He added that the opposition had asked for discussions on Manipur in Parliament, but the government had not allowed it. The opposition leader also pointed out the challenges they faced in Parliament, including being silenced and the unfair treatment they received.
Sushmita Dev, a Trinamool Congress leader, urged the President to nominate two women from different communities in Manipur to the Rajya Sabha. She believed this would help repair the “grievous harm” inflicted on the state’s women.
The memorandum claimed that the situation in Manipur had reached a critical point, with a complete breakdown of law and order. It cited a viral video that shocked the nation as evidence of the state administration and police’s failure. The memorandum further highlighted the hardships faced by people in relief camps, the spread of misinformation due to an Internet ban, and the disruption to children’s education due to prolonged school and college closures.