A one-day special session of the Manipur Assembly was adjourned sine die (with no appointed date for resumption) on Tuesday after Congress MLAs created a ruckus while demanding that the session be extended to five days. All the 10 Kuki MLAs did not attend the session that was scheduled to discuss the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, which has led to over 160 deaths and left sevel injured.
The Assembly proceedings began with a two-minute silence for those killed in the violence between Meiteis and Kukis that erupted on May 3. The clashes began after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
"With great sorrow, we condole the deaths of those killed in the violence. In times like these, words seem inefficient for those who have lost their loved ones in the strife," PTI quoted Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh as saying.
Manipur Assembly Adopts Resolution
The House adopted a resolution that it would strive to resolve all the differences among the people "through dialogue and constitutional means".
"This House unanimously resolves to work for the oneness and harmony of all the people of Manipur, irrespective of caste, community, region, religion or language. The House also resolves that as peace is the priority of the state, this House will strive to resolve all the differences among the people, till complete peace returns to the entire State, through dialogue and constitutional means," the resolution said, PTI reported.
However, Congress MLAs started raising "Let's Save Democracy" slogans and demanded that a five-day session be held. Former CM Okram Ibobi Singh said devoting a day for discussion on the prevailing situation in Manipur was not enough.
Speaker Th Satyabrata Singh urged the Opposition MLAs to sit down, however, they carried on with the ruckus and sloganeering. The Speaker then adjourned the House for 30 minutes.
As the House reassembled, Congress MLAs continued with their protest, following which the Speaker adjourned the proceedings sine die, saying that it was not possible to continue with the session amid the ruckus, PTI reported.
Last month, the Biren Singh-led government had recommended convening an Assembly session by August 21, but later revised it to August 28 after failing to get a nod from the Governor. Last week, the chief minister's office announced that the Assembly would reconvene from August 29.