Manipur Violence: After Congress, Delegation Of CPI(M), CPI MPs To Visit Violence-Hit State Today

Both the parties alleged that the BJP leadership was showing greater interest in undermining opposition parties and forcing defection in Maharashtra, instead of working to restore peace in Manipur.

New Delhi: Amid ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, a joint delegation of MPs from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) will visit the violence-hit northeastern state from July 6-8 to express solidarity with the people and take stock of the situation in the state, news agency PTI reported.

Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi undertook a two-day visit to the strife-torn state on June 29-30, during which he visited relief camps in the Churachandpur district and interacted with civil society members, and met governor Anusuiya Uikey.

In a statement announcing the visit by the five-member team, the parties launched an attack on the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state, saying the "claims of the greatest governance through double engine government are now exposed to the marrow of its bones".

Both the parties alleged that the BJP leadership was showing greater interest in undermining opposition parties and forcing defection in Maharashtra, instead of working to restore peace in Manipur, reported PTI.

"The people of Manipur continue to struggle on the principal demand of urgent restoration of normalcy and the removal of the chief minister who has become a symbol of divisive politics and has lost all legitimacy to continue in office," the statement said.

Notably, more than 100 people have lost their lives and nearly 40,000 displaced since ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities erupted in May.

The statement further stated that the Left parties participated in the national convention that took place in New Delhi on June 25 where leaders of 10 like-minded political parties and elected members of Zilla Parishads from Manipur had met.

"The CPI and CPI(M) which participated in the convention have decided to send a delegation of five MPs to Manipur from 6-8 July to express solidarity with the suffering people of Manipur, to study the situation on the ground, and talk to the authorities for restoring the normalcy.

"The delegation will meet people from all ethnic communities, both in Churachandpur and the Imphal valley. The delegation will meet the governor on 7 July at 5.00 pm and will meet the media on the 8th to share their experience," the statement added.

The delegation will comprise Bikashranjan Bhattacharya and John Brittas (Rajya Sabha members from CPI(M) and Binoy Viswam, Sandosh Kumar P (Rajya Sabha members, CPI), and K. Subba Rayan (Lok Sabha member from CPI).