INDIA on Manipur: Even country may face threat

NT Correspondent

Imphal: After a two-day visit to strifetorn Manipur, the opposition bloc INDIA on Sunday said if the conflict in the northeastern state is not resolved soon, it may create security problems for the whole nation.

Manipur has been on the boil for almost three months with over 140 lives lost and rights violations of the worst kind being recorded.

A delegation of the nonBJP coalition also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "silence" and for showing "brazen indifference" to the ongoing ethnic strife in the northeastern state.

“If the conflict in Manipur is not resolved soon, it may create security problems for the entire country,” Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

In a memorandum to Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey, the 21 opposition MPs who signed the document, demanded urgent rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected people to bring peace and harmony to the state.

"From the reports of incessant firing and arson of houses in the last few days, it is established beyond doubt that the state machinery has completely failed to control the situation for almost three months now," the memorandum read.

The continued internet ban for the last three months is aiding the unsubstantiated rumours, which is adding to the existing mistrust among the communities, the Parliamentarians said. There is anger and a sense of alienation amongst all communities and it has to be addressed without delay, they said.

"We earnestly request you to restore peace and harmony 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," the MPs told the governor.

The document also stressed that the "failure of both the central and state governments" to protect the lives and properties of the people of the two communities is apparent from the figures of more than 140 deaths (over 160 deaths as per official records), over 500 injuries, burning of more than 5,000 houses and internal displacement of over 60,000 people.

"The governor suggested that an all-party delegation should visit Manipur to talk to both Meitei and Kuki people to remove mistrust among the communities. We also agree to that suggestion," Chowdhury said.

He said that the visiting MPs will present their observations on Manipur in Parliament and try to put pressure on the central government when they get a chance.

Talking about their experience during the two-day visit, the senior Congress leader claimed the situation has become such that valley people (Meiteis) cannot go to the hills (where Kukis live) and hill people cannot come to the valley.

Tiwari cautions on passage of bills 'in haste

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Sunday claimed that all bills passed after the no-confidence motion was admitted in the Lok Sabha are "constitutionally suspect" and asserted that any substantive legislative business must succeed the outcome of the motion, not precede it.

The former Union minister also said the 10-day period for scheduling a discussion on the no-confidence motion tabled in the Lok Sabha cannot be used to "steamroll" bills.

DEBATE ON NO-CONFIDENCE

The date for a debate on the no-confidence motion moved by opposition parties is likely to be decided on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present in Parliament when the debate begins, said sources. (With Agency inputs)