PM Modi Warns Opposition Against Politicising Manipur, Claims The State Will Reject Them

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the ongoing violence in Manipur during a session in the Rajya Sabha. Modi asserted that his government, led by the BJP, is doing everything possible to restore normalcy in the state.He reported that so far, 11,000 FIRs have been filed and 500 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence.

This statement was a rebuttal to comments made by a Congress minister amidst protests from Opposition leaders. The Opposition has criticized the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance for its handling of the crisis. They have been pressing the Prime Minister since last year to visit Manipur and address the ethnic violence in Parliament.

The reason for the Opposition’s protests was the abrupt cut-off of a speech by an MP from Manipur just before PM Modi began his address. As the Prime Minister started speaking, Opposition MPs intensified their demonstrations, chanting “Manipur” and “Justice for Manipur” while banging on their desks. Their loud slogans prompted a reprimand from the Speaker. On Monday, Congress MP Bimol Akoijam from Inner Manipur voiced his deep disappointment over the lack of mention of the violence-stricken state in President Droupadi Murmu’s address.

In the Rajya Sabha, during a debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, the Prime Minister issued a warning to those worsening the situation in Manipur, stating that the people of Manipur will eventually reject such elements. He emphasized the need to rise above politics to restore normalcy in the state.

The Prime Minister underlined the efforts of the Union government, noting that the Home Minister spent several weeks in Manipur and that the Central government is providing full support to address the ongoing flood situation. He mentioned that two NDRF teams had arrived in Manipur and reiterated his warning that those fueling the unrest would be rejected by the people.

The Prime Minister also highlighted that those who understand Manipur’s history know about its long-standing social challenges deeply rooted in the past. He pointed out that these issues led to the President’s rule being imposed 10 times, a fact he urged the Congress not to forget. He criticized movements aimed at political gain as shameful, emphasizing that such incidents did not occur during his government’s tenure.

He referenced a similar series of incidents in Manipur in 1993 that persisted for five years, stressing the importance of understanding historical contexts to improve the current situation. He welcomed contributions from those willing to help and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to restoring peace in the region.

Following the Prime Minister’s statement, the opposition’s minister took his views on X, a platform formerly known as Twitter. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh pointed out during today’s Rajya Sabha session that after months of silence, the Prime Minister claimed the situation in Manipur is normal. However, as emphasized by the MP from Inner Manipur in the Lok Sabha on July 1st, the situation remains tense.

Jairam Ramesh also highlighted that the Prime Minister that the Prime Minister has yet to visit Manipur or meet with the state’s political leaders since the unrest began on May 3rd, 2023. He added that even the President’s Address overlooked this critical issue.

Despite the political disputes and accusations of politicization between the ruling party and the opposition, it’s crucial to acknowledge that Manipur has been gripped by ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki-Zomi communities since May of the previous year.