A delegation of over 20 MPs from the newly-formed opposition bloc 'INDIA' will be visiting the violence-hit Manipur on July 29 and 30 to assess the situation in the north eastern state. The opposition leaders have been seeking to visit the violence-hit state for sometime but were denied permission in view of the situation there.
Manipur has been in the grips of ethnic clashes between the Meitis and Kukis since May 3. The BJP-led state government and the centre have come under fire for delay in taking action. The opposition parties have been demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi issue a comprehensive statement in the Parliament on the ongoing violence in the state.
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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had earlier visited relief camps in Manipur. He took a chopper to Churachandpur after his convoy was stopped by the police in Bishnupur area. Hitting out at the BJP-led state government, he said that he had come to listen to the brothers and sisters of Manipur but was being stopped from doing so.
A delegation of over 20 opposition members of parliament will visit Manipur this weekend and will take a first-hand account of the situation in the state, Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore told PTI.
'INDIA' in black
They turned up in black as a mark of protest against the government over the Manipur issue in both Houses of the Parliament today. The opposition MPs have been protesting in Parliament every day over the issue.
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"...The House is functioning. We are demanding that the PM come there and make a statement. But he is giving political speeches and campaigning in Rajasthan. When he can go there, can't he come to the House for half an hour and make a statement?" Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge told reporters outside the Parliament. Slogans like "kaale kapde, kaala kaam, nahin sahega Hindustan" were heard in the House when the Leader of Opposition rose to speak.
A no-confidence motion against the government by the Congress on behalf of the opposition alliance was admitted by Birla on Wednesday. Birla said a date for a discussion on the motion will be decided after consulting the leaders of all parties. The opposition MPs have pointed out that ideally the no-confidence motion should be discussed before any other business is taken up.
