NEW DELHI, March 11: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has defended the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur, asserting that the move was based on constitutional requirements rather than political motivations.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on budgetary allocations for Manipur on Tuesday, BJP leader Biplab Deb explained that the decision was taken because the assembly session could not be convened within the mandated time frame. Deb, a former Tripura chief minister, stressed that the imposition of President’s Rule was a procedural necessity under constitutional provisions.
Addressing concerns over governance in the state, Deb highlighted the central government’s efforts to boost infrastructure in Manipur and the Northeast. He cited significant progress in railway and road connectivity, areas that had been neglected for years.
Deb also underscored the reduction in areas covered under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), stating that 75 per cent of the Northeast is no longer under the controversial law.
Further, he listed several initiatives by the Modi government, including free health insurance and the introduction of regional languages in medical education, as key steps aimed at improving governance and public welfare.
On the subject of women’s political representation, Deb credited the Modi government for enacting a law reserving 33 per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women. He contrasted this with the previous UPA administration, arguing that despite Sonia Gandhi’s leadership, the women’s reservation bill had failed to pass during its tenure.
