The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Manipur Appropriation Bill, 2025, authorising the withdrawal of funds from the Consolidated Fund of the State of Manipur for the financial year 2025-26. The Bill was cleared by a voice vote amid intense uproar and sloganeering by opposition members over issues related to the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.
The financial legislation, which facilitates government spending for the administrative functioning of Manipur—currently under President’s Rule—was passed without any discussion as the Opposition continued its protest in the House. Despite repeated calls for order, the ruckus forced the Speaker to proceed with the passage of the Bill swiftly and adjourn the House for the day soon after.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who moved the Bill, sharply criticised the opposition parties for disrupting the proceedings. “They claim to care about Manipur, but their actions show otherwise. By stalling the House and refusing to participate in the discussion, they are effectively preventing the allocation of crucial funds to the state,” she said.
The Bill seeks to appropriate funds required for the delivery of public services, administrative expenses, welfare schemes, and essential governance in Manipur for the 2025-26 fiscal year. As the state continues to be administered directly by the Centre under Article 356 of the Constitution, Parliament is responsible for passing its annual budget and appropriation bills.
Sitharaman pointed out the irony in the opposition’s stance. “They are loud about Manipur on television and in press conferences, but when the time comes to pass essential financial support for the state, they choose disruption over participation,” she said.
The opposition, however, remained focused on its demand for a detailed discussion over alleged discrepancies in the revised voter list of Bihar. Several MPs stormed the well of the House, raised slogans, and displayed placards, forcing repeated interventions by the Speaker.
With the passage of the Manipur Appropriation Bill, the Centre has ensured the continued flow of funds to the conflict-affected state, where normal legislative functioning remains suspended. The financial provision will enable the administration to carry out developmental activities, maintain law and order, and provide basic public services in the absence of an elected government.