Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired an all-party meeting in the national capital to discuss the situation in violence-hit Manipur. Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar did not take part in the meeting due to some prior commitments, however, two of his party leaders -- NCP General Secretary Narendra Verma and Manipur NCP Chief Soran Iboyaima Singh, were present in the meeting. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma and AAP leader Sanjay Singh also attended the meeting.
The situation in Manipur continues to be violent and a minister's godown was set on fire by a violent mob on Saturday. Previously, houses of ministers were also attacked. The state has not seen the return of normalcy since ethnic clashes broke out between the Kuki and the Meitei community on May 3. The opposition has said the meeting called by Amit Shah was delayed and should have been held earlier. They have also questioned the 'silence' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was on a state visit to the US and has left for Egypt on Saturday.
Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that the unprecedented violence has "left a deep wound in the conscience of our nation" and has affected the lives of people in Manipur. She appealed for peace and harmony in the state.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned the timing of the all-party meeting to discuss the prevailing situation in Manipur in the wake of ethnic violence and clashes, by saying that it is being organised when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a State visit to the United States, which shows that the meeting isn't important to him.
Violent clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Shah had visited the state for four days last month and met a cross-section of people in his efforts to bring back peace in the northeastern state.
Opposition parties have been criticising the government for its handling of the situation as violence has not stopped even after 50 days.