The Congress party has expressed its dissatisfaction with the all-party meeting that was held to discuss the situation in Manipur. According to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, the only leader from Manipur at the meeting, former CM Okram Ibobi Singh, was not allowed to present his views. Singh was representing the pain and anguish of the people of Manipur, but he was prevented from fully expressing his points by the organizers of the meeting. Jairam Ramesh said that this treatment was an insult to the people of Manipur and the Congress party.
In a tweet, Jairam Ramesh criticized the meeting by calling it a formality and an eye-wash. He shared eight points on behalf of his party, including the immediate removal of the Manipur CM for peace and normalcy in Manipur to be restored. The meeting, chaired by the Union Home Minister, was convened to discuss the prevailing situation in the violence-hit state. The BJP national president JP Nadda, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, and CPI(M) MP John Brittas were among the other leaders present in the meeting.
Violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 after clashes erupted during a rally organized by the All Tribals Students Union. The students’ union was protesting against the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe list. The BJP-ruled state has been facing opposition from the Congress party over the continuing violence. Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi had earlier said that the unprecedented violence that has devastated the lives of people in Manipur has left a deep wound in the conscience of our nation. She urged all stakeholders to work towards the restoration of peace and harmony in the state.
The Congress party has been vocal about the situation in Manipur since the violence erupted. They have been calling for action to be taken to ensure peace is restored in the state. However, the recent all-party meeting has left them disappointed, as they feel that their representative was not given a chance to put forth their point of view. The BJP government will need to take steps to address the concerns raised by the Congress party if they want to avoid further criticism and opposition from them. As of now, there seems to be no resolution in sight, and Manipur continues to face violence and unrest.
