New Delhi: A team of 20 Opposition MPs will visit trouble-torn Manipur on 29 and 30 July to assess the ground situation and recommend solutions to the central government and Parliament.
Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain said Friday that the Opposition had a feeling that information was being suppressed, particularly due to the Internet shutdown.
“Rahul Gandhi has visited the state as has a team of the Mahila Congress. We feel the information is being censored. The Internet has opened up partially. The government is not talking and neither is the Prime Minister giving a statement. We have got feedback from visiting delegations… It is not a law and order situation there. Weapons are being recovered from almost every home. Looks like everybody is baying for each other’s blood. We are, therefore, sending this delegation of 20 MPs from the Opposition INDIA block,” Hussain said.
The Rajya Sabha MP also said the Opposition would do everything in its capacity to restore peace in the area, adding that they would also meet the state Governor at 10 am on Sunday.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sushil Gupta said the delegation would meet locals and make the country aware of the situation in Manipur.
The team will include Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Gaurav Gogoi from the Congress, Trinamool Congress’s Sushmita Dev, JMM’s Mahua Maji, DMK’s Kanimozhi, Jayant Chaudhary of RLD, Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD, N K Premachandran of RSP and T. Thirumavalavan of the VCK.
A delegation of 20 MPs from INDIA alliance parties to visit Manipur on July 29-30. https://t.co/LnYu5H2XPZ pic.twitter.com/KAOwqfIrZe
— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2023
Ahead of the visit, Congress’ deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi called for an inquiry under a retired Supreme Court judge into the violence in Manipur.
Gogoi said the ruling BJP wanted all to believe that everything was fine in Manipur though violence continued unabated. “That is why we want an inquiry by a retired Supreme Court judge… How did the state government fail, how did people get access to so many weapons, what is the administration doing,” he asked.
Gogoi said Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has admitted that over 100 FIRs have been filed. “INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) MPs will go to Manipur and find out the truth and will put forward that truth before Parliament,” he told news agency PTI.
Trinamool Congress’ Sushmita Dev said the Opposition delegation wanted to give the message that they were with the people of Manipur.
“We want peace to return… the government has failed, so we want to go there and see what solution can be found,” she said.
DMK leader T.R. Baalu said the Opposition delegation would leave for Manipur Saturday morning and would find out the extent of damage and loss of lives and property.
RSP leader Premchandran said the aim of the visit was to have “first-hand” information about the ethnic clashes which have been going on for nearly three months now. Over 160 people have died and thousands have been displaced in the clashes between Kuki hill tribes and the valley-based Meiteis.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which began on 20 July and will continue till 11 August, has barely been able to function over the Opposition’s insistence on a detailed discussion on Manipur and a “comprehensive statement” on it by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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