'Rise Above Politics': On Manipur, PM Modi's Strong Message To Opposition In Rajya Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that violence is declining in Manipur and schools have reopened in most part of the state, and efforts are being made to ensure a return of complete peace. In his response to the debate on the motion of thanks, PM Modi added that over 500 people have been arrested and more than 11,000 FIRs have been registered in Manipur.

Giving a strong response to the Opposition on the Manipur issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminded Congress on Wednesday that President’s rule had to be imposed in the northeastern state previously.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Modi said that the opposition should rise above politics and work towards restoring normalcy in Manipur. In a sharp response, he said the amount of work the BJP government has done in the northeast region in the last 5 years would have taken 20 years for Congress to do. “We should all rise above politics and work towards normalcy in Manipur. I want to warn those who are trying to fuel the fire there: they will be rejected by Manipur,” he said.

Manipur plunged into violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in May last year. Since then some 200 people have been killed, while thousands have been displaced following large-scale arson that has gutted homes and government buildings.

“Incidents of violence are continuously reducing in Manipur. Today, schools, colleges, offices and other institutions are open in the state. Central & State govt is talking to all stakeholders to restore peace,” he said.

Speaking on the flood situation in the state, Modi said the central government is extending all cooperation to Manipur to tackle the flood situation. Modi’s strong response came after the Congress on Wednesday hit out at the government over its second MP from Manipur not having been allowed to speak before Modi’s address in Lok Sabha. The Opposition party also alleged that it seems the prime minister is deliberately “turning his back” to the plight of Manipur.

In his speech replying to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Lower House, Modi was faced with continuous slogan-shouting on the Manipur issue by opposition members. Just ahead of the PM’s address, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress had demanded that its MP from outer Manipur, Alfred Arthur, be allowed to speak.

Addressing the media, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said, “We saw very sad scenes in the Lok Sabha. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi wanted both the MPs from Manipur to speak during the debate on the Motion of thanks to the President’s address. The demand was made by Gandhi repeatedly.” Gandhi had gone to Manipur and saw the division in society that there is a civil war-like environment prevailing there, Gogol said.

On Monday, Congress’ Inner Manipur Lok Sabha member A Bimol Akoijam had expressed his anguish over the absence of any reference to ethnic violence-hit Manipur in President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.