During a session on early Thursday, the Lok Sabha ratified a Statutory Resolution authorizing the imposition of President's Rule in Manipur unanimously without any party divisions. Members also condemned the Centre's action over the state's affairs.
Amit Shah Defends Government's Efforts
Responding to a brief debate, Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the House that the government has taken all possible measures to restore normalcy in the conflict-ridden Northeastern state.
He noted that Manipur has remained free from violence for the past four months and emphasized that ongoing dialogues with both the Meitei and Kuki communities were aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution.
"For the most part, the situation is calm. But as long as people are living in relief camps, we can't say that it is satisfactory. The government is determined to bring peace to Manipur," Shah said.
Ethnic Violence and Government Response
The ethnic violence in Manipur, Shah said, had been caused by a state high court order.
"On the day the order was given, we acted in instant time and airlifted central troops to the state. There was no delay from our side," he explained.
Shah gave casualty figures, stating that 260 individuals had been killed since May 2023, and 80% of the deaths happened in the first month of violence.
The minister also mentioned previous communal clashes in Manipur, stating that such violence had not occurred only with the BJP government.
"Between the Naga and Kuki conflicts in the 1990s, a total of 750 people were killed in more than five years. The Kuki-Paite conflict in 1997-98 left 352 dead, while Meitei-Pangal clashes also took more than 100 lives. But during these incidents, neither the Prime Minister nor the then Home Minister visited Manipur," he said.
He rejected allegations that violence in the state broke out only during BJP rule, terming it a distortion of facts.
Opposition Expresses Concern, Calls for Immediate Action
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, while expressing his party's support for the resolution, urged the government to restore peace and put an end to insurgency during the debate.
"We must encourage dialogue, inclusivity, and stability in the state," he stated.
Likewise, TMC leader Sayani Ghosh supported the resolution but demanded immediate action to restore peace.
DMK MP K Kanimozhi reiterated the importance of putting an end to divisive politics, calling for efforts to restore normalcy, peace, and an elected government in Manipur.
Arvind Sawant from the Shiv Sena (UBT) reiterated concerns over the unrest in Manipur, highlighting the importance of restoring peace at the earliest.
NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule, however, raised the issue of democratic implications of President's Rule and urged strong intervention by the Home Minister.
Resolution Officially Passed
The House officially passed the resolution with the following title:
"Consideration on the Proclamation issued by the President on the 13th February 2025 under Article 356 (1) of the Constitution in relation to the State of Manipur"
It was approved by voice vote, finalizing Parliament's go-ahead for President's Rule in the state.
Backgound of the Conflict
Manipur violence was initiated by a 'Tribal Solidarity March', arranged in reaction to a high court judgment.
There have been various peace initiatives taken by the central government since then, with ongoing efforts to both bring the two opposing communities to the negotiating table.
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