Congress demands President’s rule in Manipur, Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia to kin of deceased

Manipur ethnic violence has claimed 60 lives so far and rendered over 30,000 people homeless.

Personnel of Army and Assam Rifles rescue people from the violence-hit areas after tribal groups' protest over court order on Scheduled Tribe status, in Imphal, Friday, May 5, 2023. (PTI/File Photo)

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Demanding the imposition of President’s rule in violence-hit Manipur, the Congress on Thursday said the northeast state had been “pushed into anarchy because of the failure of the state as well as the central governments”.

The grand-old party also demanded a compensation of Rs 20 lakh for family members of the deceased and appropriate amount of at least Rs. 5 lakh for damaged homes, and long-term rehabilitation measures to restore the livelihoods of those displaced.

Violent clashes broke out in Manipur last week after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The clashes have claimed 60 lives so far and rendered over 30,000 people homeless.

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Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Bhakta Charan Das, senior Congress leader and AICC in-charge of Manipur, claimed that the situation was quite grave in the state and alleged the law and order situation in the state deteriorated because the BJP government betrayed and reneged on the promises it had made to the people before the elections.

Taking a potshot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress leader said the PM had “not uttered a single word” so far to appeal to the people to maintain peace. Das also questioned why Union Home Minister Amit Shah has not visited the state since the violence began.

The Congress said immediate relief measures, including treatment of the injured, evacuation of those displaced from the camps, and creating of a safe space for communities to go back to their neighborhoods and homes should be provided.

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