New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, along with a delegation of party leaders, called on President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday at Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted a memorandum.
The Congress alleged there has been "a serious deficit" in the efforts of the BJP government in Manipur to contain "arson and violence" and sought a high-level inquiry commission headed by a serving or retired judge of the Supreme Court into the ethnic violence in the state.
The party said nearly 100 people have died due to ethnic violence and many more have gone missing.
"More than 2000 houses have been either burned or destroyed. Some 10000 people, including women and children, are still living in relief camps and safer places without proper health and sanitation facilities. Thousands of people are rendered homeless and displaced. Almost all educational institutions are closed, denying education to students," the memorandum said.
The party made 12 demands including firm and sustained efforts to control violence in every part of the state and immediate restoration of peace, harmony and normalcy.
"A high-level inquiry commission should be constituted headed by a serving or retired Supreme Court judge. The Union government must immediately take all possible measures to control and confine all militant groups (including those under SoO) and ensure that all armed civilian groups be stopped forthwith by taking appropriate action," the party said.
Congress said that villages near the foothills of both communities must be covered with adequate security so that armed militants do not intrude and disturb peace.
The Congress said that a special drive must be carried out to trace many numbers of missing people.
Among many other things, the Congress pointed out that thousands of "people dwelling in peripheral areas near hills and valleys are living under fear psychosis and facing sleepless nights".
The party also addressed a press conference on the situation in Manipur.
Party leader Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the Centre and state governments and alleged that the BJP's "politics of divide and rule" is responsible for the crisis in Manipur. (with ANI inputs)
