Manipur House Meets For Crucial Session First Time After Violence Erupted; Session Adjourned Sine Die Amid Ruckus By Congress MLAs

The first Assembly session of Manipur, since violence first erupted in the state on May 3, began on Tuesday. The one-day session was adjourned sine die soon after proceedings began amid ruckus by Congress MLAs. The session listed only three topics for discussion -- obituaries references, presentation of committee reports and other business 'if any'. 

The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of Manipur Legislative Assembly on Saturday had decided to hold a one-day session on Tuesday. Ten Kuki MLAs, cutting across party lines, earlier in the month said that they were unlikely to attend the assembly session due to concerns over their safety in Meitei-dominated Imphal.

Several Manipur tribal organisations too have opposed the one-day session saying the present situation is not conducive for Kuki-Zo MLAs to attend. In a joint statement on Sunday, both the organisations said considering the complete breakdown of law and order and the failure of the state government in protecting the lives of the common people and officials, convening the session "is devoid of logic and rationality."

One-day assembly session

Meanwhile, opposition MLAs criticised the government for limited the discussion of the much-awaited assembly session to just one day. This will be the first assembly session since the state went into turmoil almost four months ago.

“We had wanted a Session of at least five days, to discuss the very serious turmoil in the state… One of the most important parts of an Assembly Session is questions and answers, but there is no provision for that. This one-day Session is totally against what the people wanted. They wanted a discussion for a concrete solution. Even the Kuki MLAs, including ministers, will not attend. Tomorrow’s Session will be held in a completely undemocratic way. It is just a formality, and a deprivation of the rights of members,” said K Meghachandra Singh, Manipur Congress president and an MLA from Wangkhem constituency.

Former Manipur CM and Congress leader Okram Ibobi Singh had said the session is an eyewash and not in public interest. "The agenda is going to be obituary references," Okram said, adding, "In my experience, on a day when obituary references are taken up, no other business is discussed." "As a member of the committee, I suggested that the session be held at least for five days to discuss the unprecedented situation in the state. The opposition has just four or five members. We are not here to criticise the government, but discuss issues of public interest," Okram added.

Fresh violence in Manipur

Days ahead of the assembly session, fresh violence erupted in Manipur, after unidentified men torched three abandoned houses at New Lambulane locality in Imphal on Sunday afternoon. 

Soon after the incident, people gathered in the area and demanded state and central forces deployed in the locality to allow them to enter the area, officials said, adding that the security forces later fired a few rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.