Opposition All India Trinamool Congress on Wednesday criticized the BJP government at the Centre and Manipur for its failure to curb the violence in Manipur.
The fact finding team of five MPs of AITC arrived here in Imphal around 11 am on Wednesday and directly proceeded to the violence-hit Churachandpur district to visit relief camps where displaced people are taking refuge. The members of the team comprised Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien MP, Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee, Lok Sabha MP Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastindar, Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen, Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev.
Talking to reporters at Imphal airport MP Sushmita Dev said, “It is extremely unfortunate that the Prime Minister of India, in the last Assembly election in Manipur, said peace is the main reason to vote for BJP. But today, it is seen that the Central government and the state government are somehow not able to contain the situation”. Asserting that she is from Assam, the MP said that she has seen thousands of displaced people from Manipur taking shelter in the state (Assam).
“ Mamta instructed the team to meet all affected people of all communities and know the ground reality. We will go to all relief camps of all factions. Our leader (Mamta Benerjee) told us that we must meet all groups, all communities, all factions and people of all religions, all NGOs to get to the ground reality,” she added. Asserting that the issue of Manipur will be taken to the parliament, she said that the parliament is the voice of the people of the country and “We will stand by the people of Manipur in the parliament.”
MP Dola Sen said they come here to listen to the affected peoples of both communities and know the ground reality of the situation. After returning from Churachandpur, the team will visit relief camps in other districts including Imphal East and Imphal West districts also, she added.
She added that the AITC is with the people of Manipur while giving her assurance that the party will raise the issue to the parliament during the upcoming session. When the reporters invited a comment on the separate administration demand raised by the Kuki, she did not give a direct reply but kept on repeating that they have come to Manipur to listen to the people of Manipur.
However, responding to another query, the MP said, “We are deeply saddened to see that the Prime Minister has remained silent during this difficult time in Manipur.” The AITC delegation also met Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey at Raj Bhavan and apprized her about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state saddled with miseries of displaced people taking shelter in different relief camps in both the hills and valley districts, a press communiqué of the Raj Bhavan said.
AITC fact-finding team in Manipur ahead of parliament session
Correspondent
