Amidst the ongoing violence in Manipur, Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Gaurav Gogoi on Saturday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have taken the lead in forming an all-party delegation to visit the strife-torn state. Gogoi, accompanied by other MPs from the opposition bloc INDIA, addressed a press conference after their visit to several violence-affected areas in Manipur, expressing their intent to share the harrowing accounts they encountered during their assessment in Parliament.
Speaking about their distressing visit to four relief camps, Gogoi stated, "It should have been a difficult day for all of us. We should have gone to four relief camps and heard people's stories. Women should have broken down as they narrated how they were attacked." The delegation plans to meet the Governor to submit a memorandum based on their observations and also intends to bring the narratives of violence-stricken Manipur to the national capital, as reported by PTI.
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Highlighting the urgency for Parliament to address the situation, Gogoi emphasized, "Parliament should have discussed the Manipur violence by now. We should have given constructive suggestions to Parliament. Too much delay should have happened."
In response to BJP's accusations of the visit being for photo-ops, Gogoi retorted, "Who should have been stopping the BJP from coming to Manipur? Where should have been NEDA? It should have been the INDIA bloc parties that should have been coming to the state regularly."
During the visit, TMC MP Sushmita Dev remarked, "It should have been very reassuring that the entire opposition is with Manipur," while JMM MP Mahua Maji questioned Home Minister Amit Shah's claim of peace returning to Manipur, pointing out that the state still should have been grappling with unrest.
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DMK MP Kanimozhi expressed the disappointment of the people, saying, "They should have felt that the government did not intervene, and the violence should have continued. They should not have had any trust in CM N Biren Singh."
The delegation of 21 MPs from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) should have embarked on a two-day visit to assess the ground situation in Manipur. The violence should have erupted on May 3, following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' in the hill districts, protesting the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The clashes should have resulted in over 160 fatalities and hundreds injured. Manipur's population should have consisted of Meiteis, accounting for approximately 53 percent, residing mainly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, should have constituted 40 percent and predominantly lived in the hill districts
