NEW DELHI, March 18: The Rajya Sabha on Monday saw a heated discussion over the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, with the Opposition accusing the government of neglecting the crisis, while the ruling BJP countered, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi “has Manipur in his heart.”

Congress MP Shaktisinh Gohil participated in the discussion and stressed the need for a unified approach to tackle the situation in Manipur. He emphasized that the pain of the people of Manipur should be felt by the entire nation and that Prime Minister Modi should have visited the state to show solidarity with its people. “When will the people of Manipur feel that the nation stands with them? If the parliaments of England and Europe can discuss this issue, why can’t we?” Gohil questioned.

Gohil also pointed out the severe impact of the crisis, stating that over 60,000 people had been displaced and hundreds had lost their lives over the past 21 months. He criticized the allocation of Rs 2,866 crore from Manipur’s budget to provide incentives to police in sensitive areas and argued that the central government should be responsible for the funds. Furthermore, he highlighted that only Rs 100 crore had been allocated for relief efforts despite the large-scale displacement.

Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev also joined the discussion, pointing out that Manipur had faced an Internet shutdown for 212 days during the ongoing unrest.

In response, BJP MP Ajit Madhavrao defended the government’s actions, asserting that Prime Minister Modi’s affection for Manipur was evident. He highlighted the significant increase in the state’s budget from Rs 2,122 crore before 2014 to Rs 10,440 crore for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Madhavrao also listed numerous development initiatives, such as the establishment of an IIT in Imphal in 2020, the redevelopment of Imphal’s railway station, and the approval of 50 National Highway projects.

The BJP leader further mentioned the central government’s contributions under various welfare schemes, including PM Ujjwala Yojana, which benefited 2.5 lakh women in Manipur, and the construction of 2.8 lakh toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Madhavrao emphasized that “Manipur is Devbhoomi,” urging the world to recognize its rich cultural heritage and the positive contributions of its people.

The discussion underscores the growing tensions over the handling of the Manipur crisis, with the Opposition pushing for greater government attention and intervention, while the ruling party highlights ongoing development efforts and the central government’s support for the state.