'Ruthless Govt': Congress Leader Says Amit Shah's All-Party Meet On Manipur Called After 'Hundreds Died'

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said he never saw such a ruthless government that does not take action on time while hitting out at Amit Shah for calling the meeting after hundreds of people died.

Congress leader and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Pramod Tiwari on Saturday said he never saw such a ruthless government that does not take action when needed. Speaking ahead of the all-party meeting in the national capital to discuss the situation in the violence-hit Manipur, Tiwari hit out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying he has called a meeting to review the situation in Manipur after hundreds of people died there. He further said the  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did the same thing at the time of the farmers’ protest.

Tiwari further lamented that the meeting has been called after 52 days of the incident.

His comments came ahead of the all-party meeting being chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital today to discuss the situation in violence-hit Manipur. 

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar is not attending the meeting due to some prior commitments, however, two of his party leaders viz. NCP General Secretary Narendra Verma and Manipur NCP Chief Soran Iboyaima Singh are attending the meeting in his place, according to a party statement.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also criticised the Centre on the issue and 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.

Gandhi tweeted, "Manipur has been burning for 50 days, but the Prime Minister remained silent. An all-party meeting was called when the Prime Minister himself is not in the country! Clearly, this meeting is not important for the Prime Minister."

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi also spoke on Manipur violence and said that the incident has "left a deep wound in the conscience of our nation" and has affected the lives of people in the state.

Violence gripped the state on May 3 after clashes erupted during a rally which was organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.

Following the recent events, the state government extended the ban on internet services till Sunday in an attempt to prevent any further disturbance to peace.