Opposition Delegation Complaints of “Pathetic Conditions” in Relief Camps in Manipur

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, July 30: The 21-member multi-party delegation of MPs of the opposition’s Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) have slammed the prime minister Narendra Modi for the “brazen indifference to the violence in Manipur” and charged both the central and the state governments of abject failure to protect the lives and property of the two warring communities in the north-eastern state.

The delegation which was in Manipur on a two-day visit to see for themselves the ground realities in the strife-torn state, met the governor Anusuiya Uikey on Sunday morning in Imphal and shared their experience.

In a memorandum submitted to Governor Uikey, they requested her to restore peace and harmony taking all effective measures, “where justice should be the cornerstone.”

“In order to bring peace and harmony, rehabilitation and resettlement of the affected persons is most urgent. You are also requested to apprise the Union Government of the complete breakdown of law and order in Manipur for the last 89 days so as to enable them to intervene in the precarious situation in Manipur to restore peace and normalcy,” it said.

The delegation which landed in Manipur on Saturday visited relief camps at Churachandpur, Moirang, and Imphal, and interacted with the victims/inmates in the relief camps, they said. The opposition MPs later returned to Delhi to attend the Parliament session from Monday and narrate their experience in Manipur in the House.

The memorandum said the prolonged silence of Modi showed “his brazen indifference to the violence in Manipur,” the memorandum read, citing figures of the destruction in the ethnic conflict that has continued for over three months now.

“The failure of both the Central and state government to protect the lives and properties of the people of the two communities is apparent from the figures of more than 140 deaths, more than 500 injuries, burning of more than 5,000 houses and internal displacement of more than 60,000 people,” it said.

Reports of incessant firing and arson of houses in the last few days establishes, “beyond doubt”, that the state machineries have completely failed to control the situation for the last almost three months, the Opposition’s memorandum to the Governor alleged.

The condition in the relief camps “is pathetic is to say the least,” it said, adding that special care needs to be taken for children on a priority basis. The delegation argued that the continued internet ban for the last three months is aiding the unsubstantiated rumours, which is adding to the existing mistrust.

Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev of the Trinamool Congress, at a press conference, assured the people of the state that the opposition alliance stands with them and will fight till the last day of the Parliament’s monsoon session to “make the Prime Minister accountable” to Manipur.

“Coming from the north-eastern states, one has the feeling that people will forget us in Parliament,” she said, adding that the BJP will accuse the opposition of doing photo-op, disrupting the Parliament, and not wanting to debate the issue.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the Governor herself expressed her sorrow in the meeting. “She also advised that we all speaking to all the leaders, be it Kuki or Meitei, of all communities and find a path to a solution. She also advised that an all-party delegation should come to Manipur and speak to leaders of all communities because the atmosphere of mistrust that has been created among the people has to be addressed by everyone together,” Mr Chowdhury said.

Sushmita Dev had said earlier that among those they met was one of the two women who was paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a mob in Manipur on May 4, and her mother. The latter had one request for them, Ms Dev said, to help her at least see the bodies of her son and husband, who were killed during the incident.

On their return to Delhi, the opposition members while relating their impression from the visit said they were “very shocked and sad to hear the stories of anxieties, uncertainties, pains and sorrows of the individuals affected by the unprecedented violence.” The delegation said that there was “anger and sense of alienation” unleashed by both sides since the beginning of the clashes” amongst all communities, which must be addressed without delay.

Pointing out that more than 60,000 people have been displaced in violence in the last three months, the members said, “From the reports of incessant firing and arson of houses in the last few days, it is established beyond doubt that the State machinery has completely failed to control the situation for the last almost three months.”

The Parliamentarians underlined the “pathetic” condition of the relief camps especially the situation of children living there. The students faced an uncertain future since all the schools and educational institutions are closed. They urged the Central and State governments to address the issue on a priority basis.