Lawmakers from the Opposition bloc ‘INDIA’ on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu over their demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement in Parliament on the Manipur issue.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had sought time from President Murmu on behalf of the opposition parties. The opposition parties are seeking the President’s intervention in the matter, claiming that violence in the BJP-ruled northeastern state is continuing unabated. They also demanded that the prime minister visit the strife-torn state to restore peace.
Some MPs of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) who visited Manipur on July 29-30 are part of the opposition delegation meeting the President.
The opposition is demanding a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi followed by a discussion under Rule 267 after suspending all other House business, while the ruling dispensation wants a short-duration discussion on Manipur which will be replied to by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
In the memorandum submitted to the President, 31 leaders of the opposition bloc also raised the issue of communal tension in Haryana’s Nuh and alleged that the Central government was not bothered about the developments that are taking place “barely 100 km from the Prime Minister’s Office”.
Addressing the media here, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the members of the delegation that included MPs who visited Manipur also apprised the President of the situation in the state and shared their accounts.
“We implore you to press upon the prime minister to urgently address Parliament on the prevailing situation in Manipur, followed by a detailed and comprehensive discussion on the matter,” the opposition bloc said in the memorandum.
The Opposition bloc also suggested that President Droupadi Murmu nominate two Manipuri women from different communities to the Rajya Sabha to help rectify the “grievous harm” inflicted on women of the state. Trinamool Congress leader Sushmita Dev made the suggestion when a delegation of the opposition bloc met the President and urged her to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address Parliament on the situation in strife-torn Manipur.
Dev said nominating two women from different communities from Manipur to the Rajya Sabha would serve as a small measure to rectify the grievous harm and violation inflicted upon the women of the state. “This is the minimum expectation at this time of national tragedy,” she said.
Among the opposition members present at the meeting with the President at Rashtrapati Bhawan were Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan), Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Arvind Sawant and Sanjay Raut, Trinamool leaders Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Derek O’Brien.
