NEW DELHI, March 11: The ongoing Manipur crisis took center stage in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, leading to heated exchanges between Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during discussions on the second batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2024-25 and the Manipur Budget.
Gaurav Gogoi criticized the government for its failure to resolve the Manipur conflict, questioning the imposition of President’s Rule and urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to visit the state. In response, Nirmala Sitharaman accused Gogoi of unfairly targeting the Prime Minister, sparking further disruptions in the House.
Gogoi also questioned the status of the Manipur Vidhan Sabha, demanding clarity from the Home Minister and insisting that peace cannot be restored through force alone. His remarks elicited strong reactions from NDA MPs, adding to the charged atmosphere in the House.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Alfred Kanngam S. Arthur accused the Centre of neglecting Manipur’s hill districts, highlighting the lack of MNREGA funds and declining job opportunities. He alleged that the government was disproportionately sanctioning projects in the valley regions, leaving 95% of the state’s tribal population, who reside in the hills, without investment or employment opportunities.
Samajwadi Party MP Neeraj Maurya called for the Centre to take concrete steps to restore peace in Manipur and also raised concerns over issues faced by farmers in Uttar Pradesh. He, along with BJP MP Sambit Patra, urged lawmakers to handle the Manipur issue sensitively. Maurya further suggested an all-party meeting and direct engagement to ensure lasting peace in the state.
