Page 48 - Manipur

Govt not doing enough to quell violence, initiate dialogue in Manipur: NFIW

After its three-member delegation visited Manipur, the women's wing of CPI on Monday alleged that the ongoing disturbance in the northeastern state is not communal but "state-sponsored" as the government has been acting as an "onlooker" and has not done enough to quell violence. At a press conference in the national capital, National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) General Secretary Annie Raja said the BJP governments in the state and at the Centre should take responsibility for the situation. Its activists urged the government to initiate dialogue and restore peace in the state. They demanded that the government disarm all groups and individuals, initiate confidence-building measures, register FIRs at the earliest, and urgently improve conditions in the relief camps. According to NFIW, its team was in Manipur from June 28 to July 1. They visited three relief camps and a government hospital in Imphal East, two camps in Moirang of Bishnupur, the District Collector's office there a

Manipur entrepreneurs stare at uncertain future as violence hits businesses

With Manipur witnessing violence for over two months, the business community in the state is bleeding red with economic activities almost coming to a standstill. A number of entrepreneurs in the state said on Monday that irrespective of the communities, all sections of the people and their economic activities have been affected by the violence that began on May 3. Corporate leaders who had returned to Manipur after serving long stints at global MNCs outside the Northeast are now questioning their own decisions of investing time and money in their home state. "The impact has been huge. Almost everyone, irrespective of the communities, has been affected. Before May 3, life was pretty normal. For the last couple of years, we were on a path of progress. Businesses were flourishing, people were progressing on day-to-day lives as we were recovering from the COVID-19 impact. "Then this (ethnic clashes) happened. Now our lives have changed, and the way people do business has changed. In fa

SC asks Manipur govt to file updated status report on rehabilitation

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Manipur government to file an updated status report detailing the steps taken to ensure rehabilitation and improve the law and order situation in the ethnic violence-hit state. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra listed the batch of petitions on the issue for hearing on July 10. Asking Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, to file an updated status report, the bench said, "It should have details like rehabilitation camps, law and order and recovery of arms. In a brief hearing, the top law officer gave details of the deployment of security forces and the recent status of the law and order situation and said curfew in the state has now been reduced to five hours from 24 hours. According to Mehta, civil police, Indian reserve battalions and 114 companies of CAPFs are also deployed in the state. He said senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Kuki group

Manipur insurgent groups lift blockade to ensure supply of commodities

The insurgent groups, in a press statement, further said that Manipur has been witnessing ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki Zo communities since May 3, 2023

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Demand discussion on Manipur in Parliament: Cong MP writes to colleagues

Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi has written to fellow legislators cutting across party lines in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, urging them to demand a discussion in Parliament on the ensuing crisis in Manipur and pursue legislative interventions seeking accountability from the Centre and the state government. Bordoloi, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Assam's Nowgong, said with the Monsoon Session of Parliament scheduled to begin on July 20, he has written to all his colleagues in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha across state and party lines, urging them to lend their voice to the demand for a discussion on the crisis in Manipur. "I am writing to you in the wake of devastating and escalating ethnic violence ensuing in the state of Manipur. Violence has gripped the Northeastern state since the 3rd of May 2023, and the situation in Manipur has deteriorated significantly over the past three months, with reports of widespread violence, human rights abuses, and loss of innocent lives," ...

2 Kuki groups lift 2-month blockade on NH-2 in Manipur's Kangpokpi

Two militant outfits of Manipur, under Suspensions of Operation, on Sunday said they have lifted the two-month long blockade in Kangpokpi district along the crucial National Highway-2. Issuing a joint statement, the United Peoples' Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) said the blockade has been lifted with immediate effect following "deep concern to restore peace and harmony" by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. However, Kuki civil society group Committee on Tribal Unity (COTU), which had announced a roadblock on NH-2 two months ago, has not officially withdrawn the agitation yet. Manipur has two national highways -- NH-2 (Imphal-Dimapur) and NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam). The NH-2 has been under blockade by Kuki organisations since the violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, and was temporarily opened following Shah's visit in late May. The decision to lift the blockade comes following a recent meeting of the UPF, KNO and other Kuki groups with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Bisw

Congress demands resignation of Manipur CM, asks PM to break his silence

From the Congress party, we demand that the resignation of the CM of Manipur should be taken as soon as possible, Jairam Ramesh told reporters on Saturday

It will help if Assam CM 'did not poke his nose into Manipur': Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday took a swipe at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his remarks that the situation in Manipur will improve within 7 to 10 days, saying it would help if the BJP leader does not "poke his nose" into Manipur's conflict and stayed away. The former home minister also asserted that it would help if Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh resigned as the CM and President's Rule was imposed in the northeastern state for a few months. Sarma on Saturday said the situation in neighbouring Manipur will improve within 7-10 days, with the state and central governments working "silently" to restore peace. He had hit out at the Congress and alleged that the opposition party is showing its concern when "relative peace has come in the northeastern state". More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur since clashes first started on May 3. In a tweet, Chidambaram said, "CM, Assam h

Situation in neighbouring Manipur will improve within 7-10 days: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the situation in neighbouring Manipur will improve within 7-10 days, with the state and central governments working silently' to restore peace. He hit out at the Congress and alleged that the opposition party is showing its concern when "relative peace has come in the northeastern state." More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur since clashes first started on May 3. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme here, the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor said, The situation in Manipur is improving day by day. I am of the view that in the next one week to 10 days, there will be more improvement. Sarma claimed there has been a lot of improvement in the neighbouring state in the last month. Silently, the Manipur government and the Union home ministry are working. You can see what was the level of violence a month ago and what it

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Clueless in Imphal

Anarchy prevails in Manipur when India has its strongest central govt since Indira Gandhi's. Not even the writ of the omnipotent BJP high command runs there, as the Biren Singh drama suggests

Dismiss Manipur govt to end violence, says Cong; submits memorandum to Guv

The Maharashtra Congress on Friday met Governor Ramesh Bais and requested him to convey to the President the party's demand that the Manipur government be dismissed in order to end violence there. The Congress delegation that submitted a memorandum to this effect to Bais was led by the party's state unit working president Naseem Khan, who was accompanied by representatives from minority groups, Christian organisations and tribal leaders. "Manipur has witnessed great human tragedy for more than two months. The unprecedented violence between the ethnic groups has devastated lives of the people, uprooted their homes and forced them to flee," the memorandum said. The tradition of Manipur has been to embrace all ethnic groups, religions, the memorandum said, adding it takes tremendous courage to foster brotherhood and just one mistake to fan feelings of hatred and violence. It said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not speaking on the issue and the visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah

Manipur CM Biren Singh backtracks on resignation after high-voltage drama

High-voltage drama unfolded in Imphal after thousands of demonstrators blocked Manipur Chief Minister Biren N Singh's convoy from proceeding towards Raj Bhavan. However, after women leaders came out of his residence and told the crowd that the CM has assured them that he is not resigning, the mob slowly dispersed from his residence. Unconfirmed reports said that the CM had typed out a resignation letter but was persuaded by his supporters to tear it up. Earlier in the afternoon, hundreds of youth wearing black shirts and women sat down in front of the CM's residence demanding that Biren Singh should not resign. Sources said there were strong rumours in Imphal since morning that the chief minister was contemplating resigning from the post after renewed violence in the state on Thursday that claimed three more lives and left 5 injured. Kshetrimayum Shanti, a women leader said, At this critical juncture, the Biren Singh government should stand firm and crack down on troublemakers. T

Rahul Gandhi meets Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey, appeals for peace

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Manipur needs peace as violence is no solution, after meeting Governor Anusuiya Uikey here on Friday. "I'm ready to whatever is needed for peace. I am appealing to everybody to maintain peace, violence can never be the way out," he told reporters outside the Raj Bhavan. Congress officials said that the governor assured that steps are being taken to restore peace in the ethnic strife-hit state. Earlier during the day, he met members of Manipur civil society organisations here and listened to their problems. Among the different organisations that he met included the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (CoCoMI), a civil society organization, representatives of United Naga Council, the apex body of Naga community in Manipur, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, and prominent personalities including JNU professor Bimol A. Gandhi also visited two relief camps at Moirang in Bishnupur district, party officials said. Gandhi, who reached Moirang b

Congress' Rahul Gandhi meets Manipur civil society organisations in Imphal

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday met members of Manipur civil society organisations here and listened to their problems. Among the different organisations that he met included the Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (CoCoMI), a civil society organization, representatives of United Naga Council, the apex body of Naga community in Manipur, the Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee, and prominent personalities including JNU professor Bimol A. Congress sources said that he was likely to meet Governor Anusuiya Uikey later in the day, but it could not be independently corroborated. Earlier in the day, Gandhi visited two relief camps at Moirang in Bishnupur district, party officials said. Gandhi, who reached Moirang by a chopper from Imphal, met a number of affected people and listened to their plight. Party sources said both the camps that Gandhi visited shelter around 1,000 people. Gandhi was accompanied by former Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, party general secret

Heartbroken when met people affected due to Manipur violence: Rahul Gandhi

The most important thing Manipur needs now is Peace - to secure the lives and livelihoods of our people. All our efforts must unite towards that goal, said Rahul Gandhi

Congress' Rahul Gandhi travels to Manipur's Moirang to visit relief camps

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is travelling to Manipur's Moirang on Friday to visit relief camps in the town, party officials said. Gandhi will also meet intellectuals and civil society representatives in Imphal during the day, besides visiting relief camps in the capital of Manipur, they said. On Thursday, he had visited relief camps in Churachandpur, one of the worst affected towns in the ethnic rioting, which has plagued the northeastern state for the last two months. High drama ensued during the trip, as his convoy of cars was stopped at Bishnupur by the local police, fearing the carcade may face attacks. Gandhi eventually turned back and flew down to Churachandpur by a helicopter. The Congress leader is on a two-day visit to Manipur to bring a healing touch to local communities.

Should not politicise situation: BJP as Rahul Gandhi meets Manipur's people

Congress leaders, who earlier alleged that the authorities were preventing him from meeting victims, later said the administration did not permit him to come to Moirang

Manipur doesn't need visit by leaders to exacerbate fault lines: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the situation in Manipur demands bridging differences through compassion and not a visit by a political leader to exacerbate the fault lines, in an apparent reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's daylong trip to the ethnic strife-torn state. Sarma, who is also the convenor of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), the NDA's northeast chapter, said Gandhi's visit to Manipur is nothing but media hype and at this point, no one should try to take political mileage from the northeastern state's "tragic" situation. "Situation in Manipur demands bridging differences through compassion. It's not in the nation's interest for a political leader to use his so-called visit to exacerbate fault lines. Both the communities of the state have clearly rejected such attempts," Sarma said in a tweet. Talking to reporters, Sarma said the state and central governments are handling the Manipur situation and such daylong visits, such as ...