A motion to condemn the ethnic violence in Manipur, which has left more than 160 people dead, has been passed by the West Bengal assembly on Monday, news agency PTI reported. In the second half of the session, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay read the motion in the House.
"The violent clashes that have been taking place in Manipur for the last three months have severely affected not only the image of the state of Manipur but also of the whole nation," he read the motion.
Speaking on the motion, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP and the Union government for their roles in addressing the situation in the strife-torn state.
"The Prime Minister should make a statement on Manipur. It is a matter of shame that the PM can go on foreign trips, but can't go to Manipur," she was quoted by PTI in its report.
Banerjee said: "if the Prime Minister is unable to restore peace in Manipur, then let us (INDIA) be allowed to restore peace."
The BJP, which was present during the debate, staged a walkout following the chief minister's statement.
Slamming the motion, West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari stated: "I staged a strong protest inside the house also and will protest outside too. This is a sub-judice matter and it is in the Supreme Court. They (TMC) have done illegal work. Our voting right has been taken away," ANI reported.
The decision to table the motion on July 31 was made during a meeting of the Business Advisory (BA) committee on Wednesday. Since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was held in the hill regions to oppose the Meitei community's desire for Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation, more than 160 people have died and numerous have been injured.
Earlier on Sunday, Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo, encouraged the people of ethnically divided Manipur to embrace peace for the sake of mankind.