Oppn INDIA knocks the doors of Rashtrapati Bhavan, seeks intervention of President Murmu into Manipur Crisis; Congress highlights silence of PM, TMC urges President to nominate two women to Rajya Sabha.

A delegation of opposition bloc INDIA met with President of India Draupadi Murmu on Wednesday, appealed for early resolve of the ongoing Manipur Crisis. 21 opposition party delegation went and visited Manipur for two days last week. They have submitted their assessment in form of memorandum to President Murmu. Opposition partied while seeking the intervention of the President, stressed on the silence on part of the Prime Minister over the issue. They complained that their repeated appeals, motions in both houses demanding discussion on the parliament have been run down by the Government. Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, who led the delegation, questioned as why hasn’t the Prime Minister visited Manipur as yet, while highlighting how his microphone inside the Rajya Sabha was shut down while he was speaking, what he termed as an attempt to silence the voice of opposition.

“They don’t want to follow the principles of democracy. They don’t want to save the constitution. We have moved several motions but none were accepted. Thus helplessly, we moved no-confidence motion in order to make the PM break his silence. It was initially planned to be taken up today but they have now kept it for August 8. We are hearing that the PM will speak on August 10. Which means he will speak and run away, not engage in any discussion. There are so much arms and ammunition, why hasn’t the PM gone to Manipur as yet” asked Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

TMC leader Sushmita Dev, who was part of the 21 member delegation that visited Manipur, suggested that at least two women from two different communities ( Meitei & Kuki) from Manipur should be sent to the Rajya Sabha under the President’s nomination, as a confidence building measure among the people and essentially the women of Manipur. This after two tribal women were wronged, violated and made to parade naked early in May after the first instance of clashes that started on May 3. “ t could be a small measure to rectify the grievous harm and violation inflicted upon the women of Manipur. This is the minimum expectation at this time of national tragedy” said Dev.

Manipur crisis has now entered into its third month, so far more than 180 people have lost their lives, thousands still languishing at different relief centres in the state. Other opposition leaders who were part of the delegation that met the President included Sharad Pawar, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan), Derek O'Brien, Sanjay Singh, Kanimozhi, Sanjay Raut, RamGopal Yadav amongst others.