The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Saturday expressed their condemnation for the exclusion of the ongoing Manipur crisis in the address given by President of India Draupadi Murmu on June 27.
MPPC working president Kh Devabrata said that Manipur is going through a crisis unlike any other Indian state has seen before. In such a scenario, the Northeastern state deserves better treatment from the Central government, he said.
Devabrata noted that the Prime Minister of India has also maintained an eerie silence on the matter for a considerable time. He said that as the ruling party begins a new tenure, the people of the state expect new initiatives from the central government. However, the President chose to ignore such a pressing issue, leaving the people of the state feeling humiliated, the MPPC president said.
Devabrata highlighted the importance of the President’s address as it reflects the Modi government’s policies. “How can the President of India forget such a big crisis in the country?” Devabrata questioned, expressing his frustration.
Quoting retired Lt. Colonel Himalaya, Devabrata said the Manipur crisis is “a national security issue” and should be treated as a priority by the central government.
He indicated suspicions that the exclusion of the Manipur crisis from the Presidential address might be a conspiracy to undermine the situation.
Devabrata refuted claims that the crisis is subsiding, stating that it is escalating in a subtle manner and that the state government’s claims of returning normalcy are factually incorrect. He sounded the alarm, saying, “It is getting more dangerous than before.”
Indicating a step-motherly treatment towards Manipur, Devabrata pointed out that the President, in her address, appreciated Kashmir Valley’s Baramulla region for a high voter turnout of 59 percent while conveniently ignoring a 70 percent voter turnout in Manipur during these tough times. “This selective appreciation of one region of the country while forgetting another part has hurt and humiliated the people of Manipur,” Devabrata added.
Devabrata also strongly denied the statement made by the president in her speech relating to the settlement of disputes in northeast states.
The President of India said that most of the disputes in northeast India have been resolved in the last 10 years. However, the Congress party hasn’t seen any settlement of the dispute in reality, he claimed.
Explaining why the Manipur Congress decided to protest, he said, “The President’s speech has to be equitable and must carry a voice of justice.” The speech of a President should not become a mouthpiece of the ruling government, he added.
