Opposition Delegation Meets Governor in Manipur Amid Commonwealth Conference

New Delhi, July 30, 2023: The team of the Opposition bloc INDIA arrived in Manipur on a two-day visit to assess the situation in the state and is set to meet Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Sunday before returning to Delhi.

On Saturday, the 21-member delegation visited Churachandpur, a town hit by riots, and held discussions with Kuki leaders and victims residing in relief camps. To ensure safety, they opted for helicopters to travel to Churachandpur. Later, in Imphal, they interacted with victims from the Meitei community in other relief camps.

TMC MP Sushmita Dev, part of the delegation, conveyed, “We met one of the two women who was paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a mob in Manipur on May 4, and her mother.” Dev shared the heartfelt request made by the mother, stating, “She had one request for them, to help her at least see the bodies of her son and husband, who were killed during the incident.” Dev assured that the delegation would raise this poignant appeal during their meeting with Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Manipur’s situation holds significance in the ongoing four-day conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, India Region, at the Meghalaya Assembly building. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed deep concern, saying, “The incidents the state had witnessed since the outbreak of violence on May 3 were painful.” He called for peace and unity during these trying times.

Furthermore, a no-confidence motion against the Modi government, accepted by Birla on July 26, aims to address the Manipur issue in Parliament.

The conference, continuing on Sunday, has lined up discussions on disaster mitigation and enhancing connectivity in the region.

As election fervor rises in states heading to polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Madhya Pradesh, with BJP’s national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya expressing confidence, “The BJP will win more than 160 seats in the 230-member Assembly in the year-end polls.”

In Haryana, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar concludes his ongoing Jan Samvad programme in Rewari and will address the issue of “contaminated water coming into Dharuhera from Bhiwadi, Rajasthan.” Khattar stated, “I have put Rajasthan on seven-day notice” over the matter.

Meanwhile, in Delhi, tensions between the Aam Aadmi Party government and bureaucrats intensify, with Revenue Minister Atishi asserting her concerns over the delay in disbursing flood relief funds. She directed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to ensure all officers are deployed over the weekend to process the ex-gratia sum for the flood-affected, adding, “The money could be transferred to their bank accounts by Monday.”

The ongoing no-confidence motion against PM Modi will continue to dominate the Parliament Session’s agenda as he prepares for his radio show “Mann ki Baat” today.