Page 40 - Manipur

Modi govt indifferent to pain, anguish of Manipur people: Cong chief Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that the Narendra Modi government was "indifferent" to the pain and anguish of the people of violence-hit Manipur. The Congress chief said MPs of opposition alliance INDIA who visited Manipur to assess the situation in the strife-torn state, heard heart-wrenching stories of pain from the people there. "While Manipur faced turmoil, the Modi government appeared indifferent," he said on Twitter while asserting that the divide between communities was "deeply concerning". "Despite time for poll rallies, self-PR train inaugurations, and attending BJP meetings, PM Modi seems to have no time to address the anguish and suffering of Manipur's people or work towards resolving inter-community issues," Kharde tweeted. He also said, "The Modi government appears clueless and rudderless in handling the Manipur situation, evident in the absence of a comprehensive statement in Parliament." Over 50,000 people, including 10,000 children, are in

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 pm after protests by Oppn over Manipur issue

The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm following protests by the opposition which has been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament on the Manipur issue. When the House met at 11 am, Speaker Om Birla announced that a Parliamentary delegation from Malawi is visiting India and they were watching the proceedings of the House. He welcomed the foreign delegation and wished their pleasant stay in the country. As he completed his speech, the opposition members were on their feet demanding a statement from the prime minister on Manipur. Soon they came to the well of the House showing placards and shouting slogans against the government. The speaker initially ignored their protests and continued the Question Hour, which was the scheduled business. Two questions related to the Ministries of Education and Finance were taken up for discussion amidst sloganeering and protests. As the protests continued, the speaker appealed to the opposition members to go back to the

Missteps in Manipur may introduce dangerous dynamics in NE politics

Any demand for a separate ethnic state for the Zo people carved out of India, Myanmar and Bangladesh could rapidly worsen the security situation in India's northeast

Opposition MPs brief INDIA bloc parties on Manipur situation in Delhi

MPs of opposition alliance INDIA who had gone to Manipur to assess the situation in the strife-torn state on Monday briefed leaders of the grouping here. They met at the Parliament House and highlighted the ground realities before the alliance members. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who was part of the delegation, described the situation in Manipur as "grave". "If any of the ruling party MPs go there and see the situation for themselves, they will not make casual statements," he said. A delegation of 21 opposition MPs went to Manipur over the weekend, visiting the relief camps and meeting the people affected by the violence. The opposition has been demanding a discussion on the Manipur violence in both Houses and a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament. They are set to raise the heat on the government over the issue and will press for a statement from the prime minister as well as an elaborate discussion. Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of the Congress

Violence has taken away my house, everything we had: Indian footballer

It was a humid May evening as usual in Kozhikode, as India footballer Chinglensana Singh ambled down the ground to enter the dressing room. Once there, he saw a trail of text messages and a barrage of missed calls on his phone. Worried, he promptly tried returning the calls but to no avail. But soon the centre-back from the strife-torn state found out that he had lost almost everything in the violence that broke out there on May 3, the same day that he was representing Hyderabad FC in an AFC Cup playoff (Asian continental tournament) match against Mohun Bagan in faraway Kozhikode. "It has taken away everything from us, everything we earned, everything we had," the player, hailing from Khumujama Leikai in Churachandpur district, told PTI. "I heard the news of our house being torched and then the football turf that I built in Churachandpur was burnt. It was really heartbreaking. "I had the big dream of providing a platform to the youngsters but it was taken away. Fortunately, my fami

Double-engine govt in Manipur not doing anything to stop violence: Baghel

According to him, it is the Central government's failure even if China is behind the unrest

Mamata Banerjee's tweet on Manipur situation politically mala fide: Suvendu

West Bengal leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday called Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's emotional tweet on the situation in Manipur a "politically mala fide tweet".Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Adhikari said, "It is a politically mala fide tweet." The Bengal Leader of Opposition also questioned the Chief Minister's inaction during the Panchayat poll elections which were reportedly marred with violence."The administration of CM Banerjee did not take any action to stop the violence during the Panchayat poll elections in the state," Suvendu Adhikari said.The West Bengal Leader of Opposition further lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 10 years in government saying that his tenure did not see any "corruption charges.""...PM Modi's govt will complete 10 years in a few months and there are no corruption charges. Under PM Modi's leadership the country has progressed and its financial status has also improved...," Adhikari said.In an emotional tweet, West Bengal Chief ...

Join debate, share experiences from Manipur: Anurag Thakur to Opposition

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday urged the opposition MPs who returned from Manipur to join a discussion in Parliament on the ethnic violence in the northeastern state and share their experiences from the visit. The Union information and broadcasting minister accused the opposition members of running away from discussion in Parliament when the government had offered a debate on the ethnic violence in the state after the Monsoon session began on July 20. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already made a strong statement on the atrocities against women in Manipur, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh before the Parliament convened for the current session. "It is my appeal to the opposition members to tell the entire nation how Manipur used to burn for six months under Congress rule, hundreds of lives would be lost and yet no home minister or prime minister made any statement in Parliament," Thakur said. The opposition has been demanding a statement from the prime minis

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Mamata assures Manipur people of help, urges them to embrace peace

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Sunday urged the people of ethnic strife affected Manipur to embrace peace for the sake of humanity. She also assured the people of the northeastern state of standing by their side. "My heart aches deeply upon hearing the heart-wrenching stories from Manipur. Human lives should never endure the agonies of hatred's cruel experiments. Yet, in the face of silence from those in power, let us find solace in knowing that INDIA will mend wounds and rekindle the flame of humanity," Banerjee tweeted. A delegation of MPs from the opposition bloc INDIA, of which the TMC is a part, visited Manipur for two days since Saturday. "I earnestly plead to Manipur's brave brothers and sisters to embrace peace for the sake of humanity. We stand beside you, offering unwavering support and compassion," she said. More than 160 people lost their lives and several hundreds were injured since ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on M

INDIA bloc to stage statewide protests in J'khand on Tuesday over Manipur

The opposition bloc INDIA will stage statewide protests in Jharkhand on August 1 to oppose the incident of parading of two women in strife-torn Manipur and press for its demand to impose President's Rule in the northeastern state. The decision was taken during the alliance's state-level meeting in Congress Bhavan here. Speaking to reporters after presiding over the meeting, state Congress chief Rajesh Thakur on Sunday said, "We have decided to stage a demonstration near Raj Bhavan in Ranchi and collectorates of other districts in the state on August 1 to protest the incident of parading of women in Manipur." "We will also submit a memorandum to the President through the Jharkhand governor and urge her to immediately impose President's Rule in the northeastern state," he said. Thakur alleged that the "double-engine governments at the Centre and Manipur" have failed to stop crimes against women in the northeastern state. "The INDIA alliance cannot tolerate further assault on women i

Govt failed to control Manipur strife, PM shows brazen indifference: Oppn

Stating that the government machinery has completely failed to control the Manipur ethnic conflict, which is lingering for nearly three months, opposition bloc INDIA on Sunday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "silence", showing "brazen indifference" to the ongoing situation in the northeastern state. In a memorandum submitted 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 the last almost three months," 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. "Silence of Hon'ble Prime Minister show

If Manipur issue is not resolved soon, may create security problems: Adhir

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday asserted that if the Manipur ethnic conflict is not resolved soon, it may create security problems for the country. A delegation of opposition INDIA bloc alliance MPs called on Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum on their observations after visiting the northeastern state. Addressing reporters outside Raj Bhavan after the meeting, the Congress leader said, "The governor heard our observations and agreed to those. She expressed sorrow over the incidents of violence and suggested that an all-party delegation should visit Manipur to talk to people to remove mistrust among communities." Chowdhury said that the visiting MPs will present their observations on Manipur in Parliament. "We have requested a discussion on Manipur in Parliament as the situation is deteriorating every day," he said. The opposition delegation of 21 MPs arrived in Manipur on Saturday to assess the ground situation and meet victi

Opposition delegation reaches Raj Bhawan to meet Manipur Governor

The 21-member delegation of the grand Opposition alliance, on Saturday, arrived on a two-day visit of the state, which has seen ethnic strife and violence since May 4

Protest against Manipur incident turns violent in Maharashtra's Nashik

At least 10 police personnel received injuries in stone-pelting after a protest march against the sexual assault on two women in Manipur turned violent at Satana town in Maharashtra's Nashik district, officials said. Several persons have been detained in connection with the incident which took place on Saturday evening and the situation has been brought under control, Superintendent of Police (SP) Shahaji Umap said. The march was organised by the Eklavya Adivasi Sanghatana, a few other tribal organisations and the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi to condemn the incident in Manipur where two women were paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a mob on May 3. Thousands of young men, some of them with their torsos bare as a mark of protest, took part in the march, a local police official said. When the march, which started from the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue, reached near the tehsil office, some participants started a sit-in agitation in front of the Satana police station, demanding that local

Manipur horror video: Mother of girl demands capital punishment for culprit

The mother of one of the girls who was stripped naked and paraded by a mob in Manipur wants capital punishment for the culprits and to see the remains of her son and husband who too died on that day. She was speaking to PTI after MPs from the opposition bloc INDIA visited the victim's family. Demanding capital punishment for the culprits, she said, "I trust the central government but not the state government." She also said, "The thing I want to convey is that we the tribals, the minority, we can't live with the Meitei anymore, and second, if possible I want to at least see the dead bodies of my son and husband." On 4 May, the day the 21-year-old woman was paraded naked, her brother and father were killed by the mob. A delegation of 21 MPs from the opposition bloc is on a two-day visit to the state, and meeting people affected by the violence. When TMC MP Sushmita Dev and DMK MP Kanimozhi met the mother of one of the victims, she urged them to help her at least see the bodies of

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Tribals in Manipur reach out to Oppn alliance INDIA; seek President's rule

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), an umbrella group of tribals in Manipur, on Saturday wrote a letter to opposition alliance INDIA, seeking its support for their demand of a separate administration and implementation of President's rule in the violence-hit state. Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 between the majority Meiteis and tribals that have left over 150 people dead. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts. "We fervently appeal to the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to take up our cause and apprise the nation about our plight. "We implore you to help us survive this onslaught by supporting our demand for a separate administration from Manipur and to urge the central government to introduce President rule immediately in Manipur to end the violence," the I

We hope PM speaks in Parliament soon on Manipur situation: Farooq Abdullah

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said opposition parties want peace in strife-torn Manipur and hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in Parliament soon on the situation in the state. A delegation of 21 MPs from the opposition bloc INDIA reached Imphal on Saturday to assess the ground situation in the state. They will visit several relief camps to meet with victims of the ethnic clashes that broke in the northeastern state on May 3. "A delegation of the opposition has gone to Manipur. When they return, we will get to know from them about the situation there," Abdullah told reporters here. "We want peace to be established there so that those who live there can live in peace and the communal fight which has started be stopped. We should try to live together. A solution will come only when all the communities there live with dignity," the Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar said. Referring to the recent video of two women being paraded in Manipur, Abdullah said

Gives pain to all of us: LS Speaker Om Birla on incidents in Manipur

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday called for peace in Manipur, saying the incidents the state witnessed since the outbreak of violence on May 3 are "painful". Only peace can bring prosperity in the state and the region, he said, addressing a conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association here. "There is always pain in my heart. Whatever incidents that took place in the state were not good incidents," Birla said in an apparent reference to the violence in Manipur. "That gives pain to all of us." Birla said the country and all the state, as well all societies must walk on the path of peace. "All of us should make efforts for the restoration of people," he said. "Hence, we call for peace from the humanity point of view." The northeastern state of Manipur has been engulfed in ethnic violence since May 3, in which more than 160 people have lost their lives.