A delegation of Opposition MPs from the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) met President Droupadi Murmu on August 2 and implored her to press upon Prime Minister Narendra to address Parliament on the prevailing situation in Manipur.
Trinamool Congress leader Sushmita Dev requested the President to fill the vacancy of nominated MPs in the Upper House with women from the two warring communities in the State to give them a voice.
National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah also raised the incidents of violence against the Muslim community in Haryana, urging the President to intervene and direct the government to restore law and order in the State.
The delegation, which included the 21 MPs who visited Manipur recently, and the floor leaders of various parties, also submitted a memorandum to Ms. Murmu underlining that the situation in the northeastern State had reached a critical point in the past few weeks, witnessing a complete breakdown of law and order.
The memorandum also recounted the multiple notices moved by the Opposition MPs in both Houses of Parliament demanding a statement from the Prime Minister, which, they said, had been consistently rejected.
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“We implore you to press upon the Prime Minister to urgently address the Parliament on the prevailing situation in Manipur, followed by a detailed and comprehensive discussion on the matter,” the memorandum said.
The meeting began with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge briefing Ms. Murmu about the situation in Manipur. Congress’s Leader of the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary submitted the memorandum.
Mr. Abdullah, who was part of the delegation, urged Ms. Murmu to closely look at the growing tensions in Haryana. “He [Mr. Abdullah] said, that the Muslims across the country are looking at the events in Haryana with anxiety and the government should step in urgently to rein in those who are perpetuating violence,” a senior leader said after the meeting.
Ms. Dev also urged the President to direct the government to nominate two women from Manipur to fill the vacancy of nominated MPs in the Rajya Sabha. Speaking to The Hindu, Ms. Dev said, “The gross violation of the women of Manipur cannot be undone. Women in both the communities have suffered. But nominating women from the two communities to Rajya Sabha will send a strong message and also give them a voice.”
Addressing the media after the meetin, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said over 200 persons had died, over 500 injured, 60,000 displaced, and 5,000 houses burnt in Manipur so far. He said the rehabilitation camps, where the affected people have been lodged, were not equipped with proper living or medical facilities.
Among the leaders who accompanied the Congress chief were Tiruchi Siva, K. Kanimozhi, Rajiv Ranjan ‘Lallan’ Singh, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, Sushil Kumar Gupta, Sushmita Dev, Jayant Singh, and Manoj K. Jha.
