'Manipur Clashes Have Damaged India's Image': Oppn MPs Reach Imphal, BJP Calls It 'Show Off'

The MPs of the Opposition's INDIA coalition are visiting Manipur today to assess the ground situation. Meanwhile, a war of words has erupted between the INDIA leaders and BJP.

Delegation of opposition MPs visiting Manipur.

Source : PTI

A delegation of MPs from opposition parties of the INDIA bloc reached Imphal on Saturday to assess the ground situation in the violence-torn Manipur, days after a viral video intensified the ongoing debate over the law and order in the northeastern state. After reaching the state capital, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the team is not there for politics and is trying for peaceful solutions to end the conflict in Manipur. Party MP Gaurav Gogoi told ANI that they come to Manipur to represent the concerns of the people of the state.

"We have several demands from the Governor, we want to conduct a survey and have discussions among ourselves before taking any call," Chowdhury said.

This comes after the opposition's demand seeking PM Narendra Modi's statement on the issue inside both Houses of Parliament hindered the proceedings in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

 

Earlier, before departure, Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary spoke to reporters in Delhi. He said that they want to visit as many relief camps in Manipur as possible and talk to the affected people. The opposition bloc reportedly had written to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who allowed the delegation to visit the state, reported PTI citing sources. The delegation would be State Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Sunday morning, the report stated.

Notably, the leaders have sought to use helicopters in Manipur and so that they can visit the far-flung areas of Churachandpur, where fresh violence has taken place. Congress's deputy leader in the lower house Gaurav Gogoi sought an inquiry led by a retired Supreme Court judge into the violence in Manipur. 

The delegation includes Congress MPs Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, Sushmita Dev (Trinamool Congress), Mahua Maji (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha), Kanimozhi (DMK), Mohammad Faizal (Nationalist Congress Party), Jayant Chaudhary (Rashtriya Lok Dal), Manoj Kumar Jha (Rashtriya Janata Dal), N K Premachandran (Revolutionary Socialist Party) and T Thirumavalavan (VCK). 

Janata Dal (United) chief Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, Aneel Prasad Hegde (JD-U), CPI's Sandosh Kumar, CPI-M's A A Rahim, Samajwadi Party's Javed Ali Khan, IUML's E T Mohammed Basheer, AAP's Sushil Gupta, Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), D Ravikumar (DMK), Phulo Devi Netam and K Suresh (Congress) are also part of the delegation, which is scheduled to return to Delhi on Sunday afternoon.  

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has called the visit a ‘show-off’. Here are top updates on who said what as Manipur remains a core issue inside and outside the parliament. 

 

Who Said What On Oppn's Manipur Visit

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury: "Our aim is that normalcy is restored in Manipur at the earliest and proper relief should be provided to the victims. We are going there not to raise political issues but to understand the pain of the people of Manipur. We have been appealing to the government to find a solution to the sensitive situation which has emerged in Manipur. It is not a law & order situation but there is communal violence there. It is also affecting its neighbouring states. The government has not fulfilled its responsibility. We are going to assess the real situation on the ground in Manipur. Don't do politics on this issue...Till now, the PM has not even tried to visit Manipur. Was the government sleeping like Kumbhkaran till now? Today, after a jolt from the Opposition, the Centre has woken up."

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi: "Law and order situation has collapsed (in Manipur) but for some reason the PM cannot see the tensions in Manipur. In the coming week, we want to keep before the Parliament what the concerns of the people of Manipur are. Those who used to talk about one India have created two sides in Manipur."

DMK MP Kanimozhi: "We will be going to meet the people (in Manipur) and tell them that we are with them. We are going to meet the people of Manipur and tell them that we stand with them and we are fighting for them. We asked for permission to meet the Manipur Governor also. We expect the PM to reply in Parliament after the discussion on Manipur."

JDU Chief Lalan Singh: "We all want peace in Manipur. But, the PM is yet to speak on the issue in Parliament."

JD(U) MP Rajiv Ranjan Singh: "We will meet the people of Manipur. The State has been burning for months now, and peace needs to be restored there. The PM is speaking on all issues but Manipur. "

TMC MP Sushmita Dev: "BJP has lost face in Manipur and they are responsible for the mayhem in the state. We will try to meet members of both communities. The people of Manipur need to be heard. It is the state government's responsibility to provide security to us." 

JMM MP Mahua Maji: "If people are still living in relief camps (in Manipur) then how's peace prevailing there?" 

MP ET Muhammed Basheer: "It is a peace mission. We will talk to the people and request them to maintain normalcy."

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha: "We will meet the people in Manipur and listen to them. It is important for psychological healing. Manipur needs to be heard. We are trying to listen to the people of Manipur & understand their situation. We will try to listen to people from all communities. This is our only objective."

He added, "There is no strategy as of now. We are divided into two groups and our only attempt is to listen to the people of Manipur. They are not being heard. We will visit several relief camps and talk to the people of the state. We will meet the Governor and have discussions."

RJD Chief Jayant Chaudhary: "It is PM Modi's responsibility to understand Manipur & its people's pain. He is campaigning in different states. We will go to Manipur & understand the people's problems...We hope that the govt will take this in a positive way & we are going to help, not to increase their problems. BJP tried to divert the issue and they are not ready to discuss the issue in the Parliament."

AAP MP Sushil Gupta: "The government is not ready for discussion and the PM is not coming to the Parliament. So, we've decided to visit Manipur to see the situation on the ground."

NCP-Sharad Pawar faction MP, PP Mohammed Faizal: "We are going to Manipur today to understand the agonies and atrocities faced by the people there. We want to hear their expectations...As opposition MPs, we will support in all ways to bring normalcy there."

Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP NK Premachandran: "The visit is to get first-hand information regarding the situation in Manipur. We will meet people from all sections of society and those who are currently living in rehabilitation centres...We strongly believe that the situation in Manipur can be solved through a political resolution, not guns and force."

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant: "Manipur has been burning for the last 75 days...The atrocities against women & deaths in the state will only tarnish the country's image. In such a situation the govt should have taken some action."

 

BJP Slams Oppn's 'Show-Off'

Maharashtra Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil: "There is nothing special to say about it. The opposition to do have any reason as well. The alliance was formed on the common minimum program, which never came in front of the people. They do not have any programs for the welfare of the people. The people do not trust the opposition & its leaders."

Union Minister, Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs, Anurag Thakur: "It is just a showoff by the INDIA alliance MPs who have gone to Manipur.  The opposition & its allies never spoke when Manipur used to burn during their rule in the state...When they come back from Manipur, I would request Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to bring them to West Bengal. I want to ask Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury does he agree with the atrocities against women in the state. In Rajasthan where there are killings & crimes against women, the opposition did not go there. Will the INDIA alliance also go to Rajasthan?"

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