In an all-party meeting convened by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday, the BJP governments at the Centre and in Manipur faced severe criticism from the opposition parties regarding their handling of the recent cycle of violence that has plagued the state for the past 50 days. The main opposition, led by the Congress, has demanded the removal of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the imposition of President’s Rule in the state.
Former Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh was deputed by the Congress to attend the crucial meeting, where political leaders gathered to discuss the situation and the steps taken by the central government. The Congress has repeatedly accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of maintaining silence on the deteriorating situation in Manipur.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had visited Manipur earlier this month and engaged in detailed discussions with stakeholders, provided a briefing to the attending political leaders on the measures implemented by the central government. These measures include the establishment of a 51-member peace committee and the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry, headed by former Gauhati High Court Chief Justice Ajai Lamba, to investigate the violence that initially erupted on May 3.
During his visit, Shah had announced the formation of a judicial probe panel as part of a series of initiatives to address the situation. The Commission of Inquiry, tasked with investigating the causes and spread of the violence, has been specifically mandated to shed light on the root causes behind the ethnic clashes in the state.
Sources from the opposition camp revealed that they had coordinated their positions before the meeting to present a united front against the BJP governments. Representing the Congress, Okram Ibobi Singh attended the meeting, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was represented by its leader in Rajya Sabha, Derek O’Brien. Other attendees included Sanjay Singh from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Priyanka Chaturvedi from Shiv Sena (UBT), Tiruchi Siva from the DMK, Manoj Kumar Kha from the RJD, John Brittas from the CPM, M Thambidurai from the AIADMK, and Ram Gopal Yadav from the Samajwadi Party (SP).
As the all-party meeting on Manipur violence commenced, the opposition parties made it clear that they would be targeting the Centre, raising concerns about the efficacy of the BJP-led governments in managing the situation. The meeting served as a platform for political leaders to express their grievances and demand concrete actions to restore peace and stability in Manipur.
The outcome of this crucial gathering and the subsequent actions taken by the central government will be closely monitored by the public, who hope for a resolution to the ongoing violence and a path towards reconciliation in Manipur.
Sources By Agencies