Manipur takes over state Assemblies: After Rajasthan, Bengal passes resolution; Oppn MLAs face action in Goa

Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar did not let the issue be taken up, saying the entire country was sensitive about it. “The Union Home Ministry is dealing with the issue. The issue will be discussed in Parliament. We cannot allow discussion on the issue on the floor of the House.”

In the West Bengal Assembly, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay proposed a motion condemning the Manipur violence in the second half of the Assembly session.

Speaking on the motion, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the role of the BJP and the Union government. “The Prime Minister should make a statement on Manipur. It is a matter of shame that the PM can go on foreign trips, but can’t go to Manipur,” she said. Mamata said, “If the Prime Minister is unable to restore peace in Manipur, then let us (INDIA) be allowed to restore peace.”

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari responded: “The discussion is illegal as the matter is sub-judice. We will move court against this illegal decision to allow discussion on Manipur. This is against the ethos of federal structure.”

The BJP, which participated in the discussion, and demanded one on the violence on women in Bengal, staged a walkout after the Chief Minister’s speech.

The TMC had earlier sent a delegation to visit Manipur and held an all-party meeting on the matter.

“What is happening is horrific and barbaric. One of the most horrific killings in post-Independent India is happening there and the BJP government has become a mute spectator. We were shocked to see the situation,” TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, who was part of the delegation, earlier said.

Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, Opposition BJP MLAs Monday raised slogans “over the alleged deterioration in the law and order situation in the state after a legislator from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led ruling alliance legislator raised the Manipur issue in the House.

The ruckus led to the first adjournment of the House at around 11.20 am till 12 noon. It resumed around 12.05 pm but was finally adjourned around 12.30 pm till 11 am on Tuesday after Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon tabled supplementary budget for 2023-24 amid uproar.

As the House proceedings started at around 11.05 am, MLA Pradip Yadav raised the Manipur violence issue, alleging that the Centre has maintained a silence on it.

In sharp reaction to Yadav’s allegation, BJP MLAs trooped to the well of the House raising slogans against the alleged deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

The BJP MLAs demanded a special debate on law and order issue and they also sought the chief minister’s resignation over the issue.

In protest, some Congress legislators also came to the well but they went back to their seats following a request by Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto.

BJP’s Chandakiyari MLA Amar Bauri said, “Women are not feeling safe in the state. Cases of rape and assaults, particularly against tribal women, have increased in the state and murder is being committed in day broad light.”

Senior Congress leader and parliamentary affairs minister Alamgir Alam said, “The Congress has been demanding for discussion on the issue in Lok Sabha but the Central government is escaping.”

On July 24, the Rajasthan Assembly passed a resolution urging the Central government to take steps to contain incidents of violence in Manipur and restore peace.

“India is a Union of States … adverse conditions in any state affect the whole country. The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly is deeply concerned about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state of Manipur due to the heart-wrenching crimes and ongoing conflict between communities,” it said.

“For the last few months, the law and order situation in Manipur has been worrying and is continuously deteriorating. The violence does not seem to be stopping even after the orders and instructions given by the Central Government and the State Government of Manipur. The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly urges the Central Government to take all the necessary steps, without delay, so that peace can be established there in the interest of the country. Rajasthan Legislative Assembly appeals to the people of Manipur to maintain mutual harmony,” it added.

(with inputs from PTI)