A delegation of 21 Opposition MPs from the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) bloc visited Manipur to assess the situation in the violence-hit northeastern state. On the second day of their visit, they met with Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhawan in Imphal to discuss the prevailing conditions. During their two-day visit, the delegation visited various relief camps in Imphal, Moirang, and Churachandpur, witnessing the dire situation faced by victims of ethnic clashes.
They described the conditions in these camps as “pathetic” and presented a memorandum to the governor, urging her to take necessary action to restore peace in the state, which has been engulfed in ethnic clashes since May 3. The memorandum appealed to the governor to inform the Union Government about the complete breakdown of law and order in Manipur over the last 89 days, seeking their intervention to address the precarious situation and bring back normalcy.
Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, part of the Opposition delegation, emphasized the suffering of the people in relief camps, stating that feelings of pain, sorrow, depression, and fear were common among them. The delegation highlighted that the ongoing conflict affected various sections of society, including women, children, and students, calling for concrete measures to resolve the crisis. Governor Uikey welcomed the delegation and assured them that both the central and state governments were making relentless efforts to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur.
She suggested that an all-party delegation visit Manipur to engage in talks with leaders from all communities, aiming to find a solution at the earliest. Addressing the media after the meeting, Chowdhury conveyed the governor’s suggestion for a peaceful dialogue among all communities to eliminate hatred and mistrust, with the ultimate goal of maintaining peaceful co-existence. The governor appealed to the Opposition delegation to extend their full cooperation in restoring peace and tranquility through a peaceful dialogue with the representatives of Civil Society Organizations from both communities.
The visit to Manipur marked the first official trip by the Opposition’s I.N.D.I.A. bloc since its formation. The delegation included prominent leaders from various parties, such as the Congress, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Rashtriya Janata Dal, and Janata Dal United. In conclusion, the Opposition MPs’ visit to Manipur aimed to draw attention to the urgent need for peace amidst the ongoing ethnic clashes. Their meeting with the governor sought to explore constructive ways to resolve the conflict and foster peaceful co-existence among communities in the state.