President Droupadi Murmu was briefed on “atrocities” against women and the condition of the relief camps in violence-hit Manipur, according to Mallikarjun Kharge, National President of the Congress, who led a group of opposition leaders to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 2.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Manipur and seek to restore peace amongst all communities, particularly the Kukis and Meiteis who inhabit the state, at a news conference after meeting with the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He said that the President has promised to take the opposition’s requests into consideration.
“A 31-member delegation from I.N.D.I.A, including those who visited Manipur recently, met President Murmu and briefed her on the prevailing situation in the state. We submitted a memorandum to the President and briefed her on the atrocities on women, the condition of relief camps or shelters and the overall situation in the state. The key demand that we put forward is that the PM visits Manipur and take steps towards restoration of peace in the state,” Kharge told reporters.
The I.N.D.I.A. floor leaders and the 21-member Manipur delegation of visiting MPs sought the intervention of President Murmu in bringing back normality to the state.
The memorandum submitted to the President by the delegation read, “We urgently request your kind intervention to establish peace and harmony in the state without any further delay. Both the Union and state governments must fulfill their duties to provide justice to the affected communities. We implore you to press upon the PM to urgently address the Parliament on the prevailing situation in Manipur, followed by a detailed and comprehensive discussion on the matter.”
“In the Rajya Sabha, my microphone was switched off after 2 minutes, which shows that they don’t want democracy to function in the country. Thousands of sophisticated weapons are coming (to Manipur). Prime Minister Modi should visit Manipur in the interest of restoring peace between the Meitis and Kukis. Merely issuing a brief statement is not the way to address the issue. This government is not allowing any discussion (in Parliament over Manipur) and is also not willing to listen,” the Congress leader said.
“Prime Minister Modi should visit Manipur and talk to the people there. He should bring peace to the state and provide relief to people affected by the violence,” Kharge said.
