KOLKATA, Nov 26: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has announced its plan to address the ongoing unrest in Manipur during the winter session of Parliament, emphasizing a need for detailed debates and central intervention. The party also intends to raise economic concerns, including the rising cost of living and the withholding of funds for critical schemes.
At its national executive meeting chaired by party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the TMC resolved to seek answers from the Centre on the ethnic violence in Manipur that has left over 250 dead and thousands displaced since May 2023.
“We will seek answers from the government on the ongoing unrest in Manipur. We want a debate and want the Centre to intervene. But we want discussions and are not in favour of disruptions,” said a senior TMC leader.
The violence recently escalated when three women and three children from the Meitei community were abducted from a relief camp in Jiribam district during a gunfight between security forces and suspected Kuki-Zo militants. The incident, which occurred on November 11, also led to the deaths of 10 insurgents. The bodies of the missing individuals were found days later.
While the TMC has refrained from committing to participate in the INDIA bloc’s protests in Parliament over allegations involving the Adani Group, it underscored the importance of constructive discussions over disruptions.
Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stressed that raising questions on the Adani issue is necessary but should not overshadow other critical issues. “Not allowing the House to function just on this issue is not justified. It would help the BJP evade answers on various other burning issues such as Manipur and the withholding of funds from various states, including West Bengal,” he said.
The TMC did not send a representative to the INDIA bloc meeting held on Monday, chaired by Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, to discuss corruption allegations against the Adani Group and the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation.
The TMC plans to raise several economic issues, including the rising cost of living, increasing fertiliser prices, and the suspension of funds for housing schemes and MGNREGA. According to party insiders, these issues reflect the neglect of vulnerable sections of society and require immediate attention.
In particular, the Centre’s withholding of MGNREGA and PM Awas Yojana funds intended for West Bengal will be a key point of contention.
The TMC also expressed dissatisfaction with delays in implementing the Aparajita Bill, passed by the West Bengal Assembly in September, aimed at curbing violence against women. The bill introduces severe penalties for sexual offences, including the death penalty for perpetrators whose actions result in the victim’s death or leave her in a vegetative state.
“To demand its immediate enforcement, TMC’s women’s wing will organize marches across all blocks on November 30 from 2 pm to 4 pm, followed by sit-ins on December 1,” said West Bengal minister Chandrima Bhattacharya.
A 15-member delegation, comprising five women MLAs and ten women MPs, will meet the President after December 10 to submit a memorandum urging swift implementation of the law. The party also plans to send a letter to the Governor in this regard.
The demand for implementing the Aparajita Bill follows public outrage over the rape and murder of an on-duty doctor at RG Kar Hospital in West Bengal.
The TMC’s approach for the winter session signals its intent to hold the government accountable on multiple fronts while maintaining a constructive tone. With a focus on debates over disruptions, the party aims to address critical national and regional issues, including unrest in Manipur, economic challenges, and women’s safety.
