IT News/Agency
Imphal, July 29:
A delegation of 21 MPs from the opposition bloc INDIA reached here in Imphal to assess the ground situation of the violence that has been haunting since May 3.
The INDIA delegation reached Imphal Airport by a commercial flight from Delhi today.
Soon after their arrival, the INDIA delegation visits Churachandpur and meet the victims from the Kuki community in the relief camps there.
After visiting a relief camp in Churachandpur district, Manipur, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised concern for the people staying in the camp, stating that ‘their fear was evident from their expressions’. He observed that the affected people seemed hesitant to communicate with anyone and believed that the government would not offer them any assistance.
“It is clear from their faces that they are extremely scared,” Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said after visiting a relief camp in Churachandpur district. “They refuse to speak to anyone. They understand that this government will not assist them,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Earlier in the day, a multi-party delegation from the Opposition’s ‘Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’ or I.N.D.I.A arrived in Manipur to assess the ground situation in the northeastern state where ethnic violence erupted on May 3. The Opposition decided to send a delegation to the state of 21 Parliamentarians from 16 different parties. The delegation will also meet with Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Sunday.
TMC leader Sushmita Dev stated that the team will meet with members of both communities. Dev emphasised the importance of meeting the victims in person after visiting the camp. She lamented the absence of a government delegation and emphasised the opposition parties’ responsibility to address the conflict-torn region’s situation.
She said: “It was important for us to come here and meet the victims; the unfortunate part is that the Government of India should have sent a delegation, but Opposition parties must send a delegation here,” ANI quoted her as saying.
“We met several people in the relief camp here and listened to their problems,” said RJD MP Manoj Jha, who also visited the camp. “We have assured them that the situation will improve, and we are all working towards that direction,” ANI reported.
The 21-member Opposition delegation, from both Houses, includes Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Gaurav Gogoi, K Suresh and Phulo Devi Netam of the Congress; Rajiv Ranjan Lalan Singh of the JDU; Sushmita Dev from Trinamool Congress; Kanimozhi from DMK; Sandosh Kumar of the CPI; AA Rahim from CPI(M), Manoj Kumar Jha of RJD; Javed Ali Khan of SP; Mahua Maji of JMM; PP Mohammed Faizal of NCP; Aneel Prasad Hegde of JDU, ET Mohammed Basheer of IUML; NK Premachandran of RSP; Sushil Gupta of AAP; Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT); D Ravikumar of VCK; Thiru Thol Thirumavalavan also of VCK; and Jayant Singh of the RLD.
