21-member opposition delegation on 2-day Manipur visit: Key highlights | India News – Times of India
The visit comes amid repeated disruptions and adjournments over the issue of Manipur in both Houses of Parliament during the ongoing monsoon session.
Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla had accepted a motion of no-cofidence moved by the opposition against the Centre over the Manipur situation. Defending the motion, opposition leaders said it was aimed at eliciting a response from PM Modi over the Manipur situation in Parliament.
Who are part of the delegation?
The delegation left for Manipur on a commercial flight from Delhi. The 21-member opposition delegation, from both Houses, includes Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh and Phulo Devi Netam of the Congress; Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh of the JDU; Sushmita Dev from Trinamool Congress; Kanimozhi from DMK; Sandosh Kumar of the CPI; AA Rahim from CPI(M), Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD; Javed Ali Khan of SP; Mahua Maji of JMM; PP Mohammed Faizal of NCP; Aneel Prasad Hegde of JDU, ET Mohammed Basheer of IUML; NK Premachandran of RSP; Sushil Gupta of AAP; Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT); D Ravikumar of VCK; Thiru Thol Thirumavalavan also of VCK; and Jayant Singh of the RLD.
Delegation to split into 2 teams
As per the schedule, the delegation, split into two teams, will reach the Imphal airport at 12pm on Saturday and will leave for Churachandpur, the epicentre of the ethnic violence in the state. The delegation is likely to hold a press conference at 8.30pm. opposition leaders have been seeking to visit the violence-hit state for sometime, but were denied permission in view of the situation there.
MPs seek use of chopper
Sources said the opposition bloc had written to Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh, who allowed the delegation to visit the state. The MPs have sought to use helicopters in Manipur and if allowed, they will visit the far-flung areas of Churachandpur, where fresh violence has taken place.
‘Govt wants to pass off Manipurviolence as law-and-order situation’
Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary said they want to visit as many relief camps in Manipur as possible and talk to the affected people. “Our endeavour is to make an assessment of the situation prevailing in the state. We hope that the state government will not create any hindrance during our visit,” Chaudhary said.
He said the government should make efforts to restore normalcy in Manipur, bring peace and resolve the pain and suffering of the people of the state. The Congress leader said they will also meet governor Anusuiya Uikey and apprise her of their experiences during the visit.
“The government wants to pass off the Manipur violence as a law-and-order situation, but it is not just that as ethnic clashes have taken place there. The government should not try and evade the issue as it is being discussed all over the world,” Chaudhary said.
BJP: Will opposition make report on violence in Bengal, Rajasthan?
Union minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur, meanwhile, hit out at the opposition leaders over their silence and inaction towards violence reported in West Bengal and Rajasthan. “Will the group of opposition leaders, who have gone to Manipur, visit Rajasthan and West Bengal and prepare a report on the atrocities of women in these states? Will these tourists of political tourism able to see the plight of the women who are under the protection of governments led by Mamata Banerjee and Ashok Gehlot? Will they understand and share their pain?” Thakur said.
Congress calls for inquiry
Ahead of the visit, Congress’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi called for an inquiry led by a retired Supreme Court judge into the violence in Manipur.
The opposition has been demanding a discussion in both houses of Parliament on Manipur, and also a statement from the Prime Minister on the current situation there. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, however, had visited a few places in Manipur earlier.
