The Central Government informed all parties during the all-party meeting that the government is ready to discuss the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur during the upcoming monsoon session of parliament, according to sources. Since May 3, more than 140 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence in Manipur.
The government convened an all-party meeting on Wednesday to deliberate on a host of issues related to Parliament's monsoon session, which will begin from July 20. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that the government is willing to discuss every issue permitted under the rules and approved by the Chair, including the violence in Manipur, a matter frequently raised by opposition leaders.
The move comes days after the European Parliament adopted a strongly-worded motion on the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, denouncing “in the strongest terms nationalistic rhetoric deployed by leading members of the BJP party” – a move that New Delhi termed as an “unacceptable interference” in the internal affairs of India.
Some of the motions tabled in the EU Parliament by six parliamentary groups, criticised the Modi government’s handling of the two-month-long violence in the state. "There have been concerns about politically motivated, divisive policies promoting Hindu majoritarianism, and about an increase in activity by militant groups," the joint resolution stated. It further condemned the state government's decision to impose curfew and curtail internet access which "severely hinders information-gathering and reporting by the media and civil society groups."
The opposition parties have also condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not making any statement on the situation or visiting the state since the violence began. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhruy said, "The first demand of our party is for the PM to give a statement in the House on the Manipur issue and give us the opportunity to discuss it. Tomorrow, we want to bring an adjournment motion over this."
This is a developing story. More details are awaited.
