New Delhi: Opposition INDIA bloc on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to visit conflict-hit Manipur and raised three demands. The opposition said that the people of Manipur have been “eagerly waiting” for PM Modi to put forward their “voices of helplessness”.
In the letter to PM Modi, the opposition INDIA bloc said: “We, on behalf of the people of Manipur and also on behalf of the INDIA bloc, Manipur, invite you for your visit to our state, Manipur, which has been in turmoil for nearly 2 years since the 3rd of May, 2023.”
‘Turmoil has devastated entire state’
Pointing to the devastation that has hit the northeastern state, the opposition underlined that “turmoil has devasted the entire state with nearly a lakh of human population being internally displaced and hundreds of human lives being taken away”. The letter added: “The continued violence has further escalated the turmoil with unprecedented pain, trauma, fear and complete helplessness among the people of Manipur.”
Three demands have been placed by the opposition before PM Modi as a part of a solution needed to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur.
These demands are that PM Modi visit Manipur at the earliest and before 2024 draws to a close. The opposition has urged the Prime Minister, if he doesn’t have time to visit Manipur, to invite all political parties from the hill state to his official residence in New Delhi.
The opposition’s third demand seeks PM’s direct involvement with the people of Manipur which can only bring peace and normalcy in Manipur. “The people of Manipur are longing to meet you on the soil of Manipur,” the letter said.
In November, Manipur witnessed fresh violence, which included attacks on the houses of ministers and MLAs. The violence broke out after the discovery of six bodies – three women and three children – in the Barak river in restive Jiribam.