A delegation of 31 opposition MPs met President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday to raise the Manipur issue and handed over a memorandum to her seeking her intervention in the ongoing crisis in the state.
“31 members of the INDIA alliance met President Murmu and 21 MPs’ delegation that visited Manipur briefed her on the situation there. We submitted a memorandum to the President. We briefed the President, especially on atrocities against women, rehabilitation and other conditions in Manipur,…Our main demand is that PM should visit Manipur and take steps towards restoring peace in the state,” Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said after meeting the President.
“Mallaikarjun Kharge and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury briefed her. We also submitted a memorandum to the President…the President said she will look into it,” said DMK MP T Siva who was the part of the delegation.
The delegation also included 21 MPs of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) who visited Manipur on July 29-30. The meeting came at a time when the opposition’s demand for the prime minister’s statement in Parliament followed by a comprehensive discussion on the violence in Manipur remained unfulfilled.
Earlier, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had sought time from the President on behalf of the opposition parties to discuss the Manipur issue. Following his request, the President granted time to them on Wednesday at 11.30 am.
The opposition is demanding a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi followed by a discussion under Rule 267 after suspending all other House business, while the ruling dispensation wants a short-duration discussion on Manipur which will be replied to by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The opposition parties have now sought the President’s intervention in the matter, claiming that the violence in the BJP-ruled northeastern state is continuing unabated.
“The 21 INDIA party MPs who visited Manipur on July 29th and 30th will be meeting with the Hon’ble President of India on August 2nd at 1130 am. They will be accompanied by the floor leaders of INDIA parties,” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said.
The opposition parties have also been demanding the dismissal of the Biren Singh government in Manipur over the violence which started on May 3.
The opposition parties said they will continue to raise the demand for the dismissal of the BJP government in Manipur before the President during their meeting on Wednesday and will seek her intervention in ensuring the restoration of law and order in the state.
The delegation of 21 opposition MPs, on its return from the ethnic strife-torn state, had apprised the leaders of the INDIA alliance about the situation there. The delegation visited the affected areas and met people in relief camps in both the hills and the valley.
Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was part of the opposition delegation to Manipur, has described the situation in the state as “grave”.
