Agency/ IT News
New Delhi, April 4:
The Rajya Sabha passed the resolution on President’s Rule in Manipur at 3:58 am on Friday following an all-night session. The decision came a day after a similar late-night discussion in the Lok Sabha, drawing sharp criticism from the Opposition over the handling of the ongoing ethnic crisis in the state.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing the Rajya Sabha on Friday, underscored the need for a peace dialogue between the two communities in Manipur. He announced that the Centre would soon convene a final meeting between representatives of both communities in Delhi to facilitate discussions aimed at restoring peace.
Shah clarified that despite the prolonged unrest in Manipur, the Centre had initially refrained from imposing President’s Rule to allow the state government to function. However, following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on February 11 and the absence of any alternative government proposal, the Centre decided to implement President’s Rule in the state. He further emphasized that the Union government is not in favor of continuing the President’s Rule even for a “single day” longer than necessary.
Addressing the broader situation in Manipur, Shah accused the previous Congress-led government of failing to maintain law and order in the state, stating that there had been curfews for 225 days a year and over 1,500 people had died in police encounters during its tenure. He distinguished the current ethnic violence from past instances of state-directed violence, asserting that the current crisis stems from community conflicts rather than direct state actions.
In response to concerns raised by Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien regarding violence against women, Shah accused the party of maintaining “double standards” on the issue. He pointed to incidents in West Bengal, particularly in Sandeshkhali and the RG Kar hospital case, claiming that the Trinamool Congress had failed to take appropriate action against perpetrators.
Shah also reiterated that the violence in Manipur was triggered by a High Court order in May 2023, which led to fears among the tribal community about losing their reservation status, escalating tensions into a conflict between tribal and non-tribal groups. He noted that the Centre had conducted 13 meetings with both communities to address the crisis, including two meetings during the ongoing budget session. The upcoming final meeting in Delhi, he expressed, would hopefully pave the way for dialogue and reconciliation.
Earlier in the session, Shah had moved the resolution for Rajya Sabha’s approval of the Presidential proclamation, confirming the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur.