In a long-awaited response, PM Narendra Modi finally spoke about the year-long ethnic violence in Manipur.
While replying to the debate on the ‘Motion of Thanks’ in the President’s address in the Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister said that the central government is making efforts to restore peace in the northeastern state of Manipur. He said that 11,000 FIRs have been lodged and 500 people have been arrested in connection with the violence so far.
Accusing the opposition of taking political advantage of the incidents in Manipur, Modi said, “Some elements are adding fuel to the fire, and such elements will be rejected by the people of Manipur.”
“In Manipur, I had spoken elaborately in the last session. But I would like to repeat once more: to stabilize the situation in Manipur, the government is making relentless efforts. Due to the incidents that have happened there, more than 11,000 FIRs have been lodged. Manipur is a small state. More than 500 people have been arrested,” the PM said. “We have to accept that in Manipur, violent incidents are decreasing. This means there is hope for peace. Today, in most parts of Manipur, like on normal days, schools, colleges, and offices are operating. In Manipur, too, exams were held like in other parts,” said Modi.
“Efforts are being made. It has not happened during past governments that the Union Home Minister has stayed there (in Manipur) for days. The MoS (home) stayed there for weeks and held conversations with stakeholders. Efforts were made to bring people together. All senior government officials who are posted there repeatedly visit the places physically. All efforts are being made to bring peace,” said Modi.
PM Modi delivered a reminder to Congress about the turmoil that Manipur faced in 1993 when Congress was in power at the center.
“All of us must rise above politics and contribute to making the situation normal there. This is our duty,” said Modi. “Those elements who are adding fuel to the Manipur fire, I request that they stop this. A time will come when Manipur will reject them.”
The PM also said, “Those who know the history of Manipur know that there has been a long social struggle there. The roots of the struggle are very deep. No one can deny this. Congresspeople should not forget that, because of these reasons, the president’s rule had to be imposed 10 times. There have to be some issues. And this has not happened during our tenure. Still, for political gains, the kind of movements there are shameful.”
He said, “In 1993, a similar series of incidents happened in Manipur. And it was so strong that it lasted for five years. We must make efforts to improve the situation after understanding all this. Those who want to contribute are welcome. But we are working to bring peace.”
The PM added that “At this time, Manipur is also facing the issue of floods, and the central government is working with the state government and providing all possible support. So, in a natural disaster too, the Center and the state government are concerned about Manipur.”
The statement from Modi came after the outrage during the debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s address on Tuesday, when the opposition raised slogans of “Justice for Manipur” in the Lok Sabha.
Opposition Hits Back
Denouncing Modi’s statements, an internal MP from Manipur, A. Bimol Akoijam, said that the Modi government has ignored the state for too long.
“Is this silence communicating to the people of the Northeast and particularly Manipur that you do not matter in the Indian State’s scheme of things?” Akoijam said, addressing the Lok Sabha around midnight, hours after Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi also highlighted the Manipur crisis among other issues during his speech. Drawing the members’ attention to the absence of the Manipur crisis in the president’s address, Akoijam said: “This is not a simple absence. It is a reminder of the ‘rashtra chetana (national consciousness), which excludes people. You must realize that more than 60,000 people have been languishing in relief camps in wretched conditions for the last year. 60,000 people being homeless is not a joke. Over 200 people have died. There has been a civil war-like situation where people, armed to the teeth, are roaming around and fighting each other, defending their villages, and the Indian State has been a mute spectator to this tragedy for a year.” Akoijam also said he was “amazed at being allotted a slot close to midnight for his address, when there was hardly anyone present in the House, including from the Congress ranks.”
The Congress hit back at PM Modi’s statement on Manipur. In a statement posted on X, the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, said, “Today in the Rajya Sabha, after months of absolute silence on the issue, the non-biological PM made the astounding claim that the situation in Manipur is normal. In actuality, the situation is still tense, as the MP from Inner Manipur pointed out in the Lok Sabha on July 1st.” “And the non-biological Pradhan Mantri has still not visited Manipur since it erupted on the night of May 3rd, 2023, nor has he met with the political leaders of the state. The President’s Address too was silent on the issue,” he added.
