The opposition alliance INDIA delegation of 21 legislators went to the war-torn Manipur yesterday and interacted with the people residing in the relief camps there. Congress leader Phulodevi Netam said that the condition of people in camps is heart-rending as 400-500 of them are made to stay in one hall without proper toilet facilities.
The leaders of the INDIA bloc who are currently visiting the war-torn state of Manipur have expressed concern over the living situation of the people residing in government-allotted relief camps. Congress leader Phulodevi Netam said that a large number of the people are made to live in a hall and proper toilet facility is not provided within the camps.
Congress MP Phulodevi Netam who is a part of the INDIA delegation told the media, “...400-500 people are staying in one hall. The State Govt is providing them only daal-chawal, children are not getting anything else to eat the entire day. There is no toilet or bathroom facility. The manner in which people are living in camps is very heart-rending..."
According to reports the opposition leaders questioned the need for relief camps pointing out that the state government earlier claimed that the situation there was peaceful.
A delegation of 21 MPs from the opposition arrived in Manipur on Saturday to evaluate the current situation on the ground and meet with victims of the ethnic riots that have been ongoing for three months in the state. The following day, they visited Raj Bhavan and met with Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey where they presented a memorandum detailing their observations.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told the reporters outside of Raj Bhavan, "The governor heard our observations and agreed to those. She expressed pain over the violence and narrated the people's sufferings."
"The governor suggested that an all-party delegation should visit Manipur to talk to both Meitei and Kuki people to remove mistrust among the communities. We also agree to that suggestion," Chowdhury added.
According to him, the MPs who are visiting Manipur will share their observations in Parliament and use any opportunity to exert pressure on the central government.
"We will speak on the lapses committed by state and central governments in Manipur in Parliament. We appeal to the Centre to have a discussion on the issue in Parliament," he added.
Chowdhury claimed the situation in Manipur is deteriorating every day.