NEW DELHI: Highlighting the grave situation, Delhi chief minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday questioned the โdeafening silenceโ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded accountability over the Manipur riots.
Speaking in the Delhi Assembly, the CM said that the people of Manipur were closely observing the response of the Central government to the ethnic violence which has been raging for more than two months.
He told Delhi legislators: โSince the outbreak of violence in Manipur, there have been 6500 FIRs filed within 90-100 days. Around 4000 homes have been razed, displacing 60,000 individuals. Tragically, 150 lives have been lost, and 350 places of worship have been destroyed.โ
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โDisputes between Central forces and local police have tarnished our nationโs dignity. The European Parliament and American parliamentarians have discussed this issue, yet the PM remains silent. Even when a video went viral depicting the horrifying incident where two women were humiliated, the PMโs silence persisted,โ Kejriwal stated.
Highlighting the protests by BJP legislators from Manipur, Kejriwal said: โThe message is clear from the BJP and PM Modi that they donโt care about Manipur.โ
He shared a poignant example of a retired army officer from Manipur, a long-time admirer of PM Modi, who expressed his disillusionment with the PMโs response to the turmoil.
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While BJP leaders tout PM Modiโs frequent visits to the North East, Kejriwal questioned the true nature of these interactions. โA friend in need is a friend indeed. When Manipur faced adversity, the PMโs doors remained closed. The nation seeks an explanation for PM Modiโs silence on the Manipur issue. This is not an isolated incident. Throughout the past 9 years, whenever the nation faced challenges, the PM has often been absent,โ Kejriwal alleged.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief also used the opportunity to attack the Central government over its handling of border dispute with China.
