PM Modi Faces Criticism Over Manipur Crisis

BJP Defends Government’s Actions

On Monday, opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur following the ethnic violence in May 2023. Leaders from Congress, TMC, DMK, BJD, AAP, and CPI accused Modi of neglecting the people of Manipur despite his numerous official trips within India and abroad.

Government’s Response Defended

In response, the Treasury benches emphasized Home Minister Amit Shah’s visits to Manipur, including a three-day stay soon after the violence began, which led to the announcement of several measures to restore order and provide relief to the affected people. Shah’s deputy, Nityanand Rai, also stayed in the state for three months to oversee the implementation of these measures.

BJP MPs Recall Past Violence

BJP MP Arun Singh reminded the House that in 1993, when the Congress was in power both at the Centre and in Manipur, ethnic violence claimed 750 lives and destroyed 300 villages. However, the then Prime Minister never visited the state, nor did his home minister explain the situation in Parliament.

Opposition Demands Action

• Congress’s Shaktisinh Gohil urged rising above political considerations and assuring Manipur that its problems are the nation’s problems.
• RJD’s Manoj Kumar Jha suggested an all-party delegation’s visit to Manipur.
• TMC’s Sushmita Dev and AAP’s Sanjay Singh noted that the peace committee announced by Shah for Manipur was ineffective as its proposed members were unwilling to work with Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
• The opposition MPs criticized the Centre for not reviewing the leadership in Manipur during its two-year crisis, but suddenly deciding to appoint former home secretary Ajay Bhalla as governor and placing the state under President’s rule.

BJP MPs Uphold Centre’s Commitment

Arun Singh and Gopachade defended the Centre’s commitment to a financial turnaround in Manipur with generous allocations for social sector schemes and infrastructure projects in the state budget. BJP MP from Manipur Sanajoaba Leishemba requested continued support from the Centre, stating that 60,000 people still living in camps in dire conditions are waiting to rebuild their lives.

TMC and BJD Critique ‘Double Engine’ Government

Dev criticized the ‘double engine’ government of BJP in Manipur for its failure, a point echoed by BJD’s Sulata Deo. Arun Singh countered, saying that a party like TMC, which holds office in just one state, should not comment on a party governing 21 states.