KOLKATA: In a bid to address the ongoing turmoil in Manipur, 26 opposition parties under their coalition, I.N.D.I.A., have scheduled a crucial two-day visit to the troubled state on Saturday.
Each party will be sending a representative to assess the situation and interact with both the Kuki and Meitei communities, reliable sources told The New Indian.
“The opposition will be visiting Manipur tomorrow to take stock of the situation. The representatives will visit both the Kuki and Meitei communities,” sources said.
FLASH: A delegation of Opposition I.N.D.I.A. to embark on a two-day visit to riot-hit #Manipur starting tomorrow, reports @joymalabagchi
(File photo) pic.twitter.com/WYFPC6mPrF
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) July 28, 2023
The opposition’s visit is aimed at taking stock of the situation and engaging with the state administration. The delegation comprises one Member of Parliament from each parliamentary party, whether from the Upper House or Lower House. Furthermore, parties without representation in Parliament will send one senior representative from their ranks. The inclusive approach reflects the united effort of the opposition to address the pressing issues in Manipur.
“One MP from each parliamentary party will be going and parties that have no representation in the parliament will send one senior representative of their party. They will also speak with the state administration,” sources added.
Some of the representatives include Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Gourav Gogoi from Congress, Sushmita Dev from TMC, Vandana Chouhan from NCP and Kanimozhi from DMK.
The visit comes in the wake of the Parliament being engulfed in pandemonium, with the opposition demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi address the unrest in Manipur. In response to the PM’s silence on the matter, opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha staged a walkout as a form of protest.
During a recent BJP parliamentary party meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the opposition, referring to them as “directionless” following the chaos in Parliament.
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He even cited historical examples, like the East India Company and Indian Mujahideen, to emphasise that adding I.N.D.I.A. to their names would not be effective.
In a significant development, two days ago, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla accepted a no-confidence motion moved by the opposition against the Prime Minister regarding the Manipur issue.
Such motions can only be introduced in the Lok Sabha, and this is the first time in 20 years that opposition parties have taken this step against the government.
ALSO READ: Manipur riots: Opposition demands discussion in both houses
The Monsoon session of Parliament, which began on July 20, has witnessed ongoing clashes between the centre and the opposition for four consecutive days.
Amidst this political turmoil, Manipur continues to face its own challenges, with ethnic violence escalating for over 80 days. The situation has led to the loss of numerous lives, left many others injured and caused unimaginable suffering, including instances of sexual violence against women.
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