New Delhi, July 31, 2023: A delegation of 21 MPs from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) visited Manipur on Saturday to gauge the ground situation in the strife-torn northeastern state. The visit comes amidst civil unrest that has gripped Manipur since May 3.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a crucial meeting with Opposition bloc leaders, AAP MP Raghav Chadha praised the representative MPs for their visit, stating that they had returned “after wiping off the tears of the people of Manipur.”
The meeting, attended by senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, aimed to brief the members about the situation in Manipur and strategize for the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament.
Chadha, on behalf of the I.N.D.I.A alliance, expressed their commitment to inform the public about the Opposition’s next course of action regarding Manipur after the meeting. The 21-member delegation’s visit was intended to gain first-hand insights into the prevailing unrest in the region.
In addition to discussing the Manipur situation, Chadha also criticized the central government for proposing a bill to replace the Centre’s ordinance on control of services in Delhi. He deemed the move undemocratic, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) intended to undermine the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government. The AAP issued a three-line whip to all its Rajya Sabha MPs, urging their presence in the House until August 4 in anticipation of the bill.
Meanwhile, the I.N.D.I.A grouping has vowed to oppose the passage of the bill, despite the central government’s majority in both Houses. The contentious bill seeks to replace an ordinance that revoked a Supreme Court order granting the Delhi government the power of transfer and posting.
As the government accuses the Opposition of impeding the Manipur discussion in Parliament, the call for dialogue and debate remains critical to address the unfolding situation in the violence-hit state.
