Manipur MP delivers fiery speech, slams PM Modi’s silence on ‘tragedy’ (VIDEO)

Speaking during the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the speech of President Droupadi Murmu, the newly elected MP from the Interior Manipur constituency said, “We have to understand that over 60,000 people are languishing in relief camps in miserable conditions for the last one year. Sixty thousand people homeless is no joke. Over 200 people have died. We are living in a kind of civil war where people armed to the teeth are roaming and fighting among themselves to defend their villages. And the Indian state has been a mute spectator to this tragedy for the last one year. Let me remind this House that every inch of Manipur is covered by the Central Armed Forces. It is one of the most militarised areas of this country where there are more armed police than civil police in addition to the Union Armed Forces. Despite this, how come 60,000 people were left homeless and thousands of villages were destroyed? And yet our Prime Minister remains silent; not even a word.”

It is worth noting that Manipur has been witnessing heightened tensions since May 2023, following ethnic violence triggered by a protest march by the Kuki tribes in the hill districts. The march was in response to the demand of the valley-dominated Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Highlighting the achievements of the people of Manipur like Ashok Chakra awardee Major Laishram Jotin, Veer Chakra awardee Ngangom Joydutta and notable personalities like Mary Kom, Mirabai Chanu, Ratan Thiyam, Kunjarani, Laishram Sarita, Aribam Shyam Sharma, he pointed out that the silence of the central government on the Manipur crisis could be seen as disrespect to their contributions. He expressed disappointment that a national party like the BJP seems comfortable with silence during the tragedies in Manipur.

He said, “This silence (of the Prime Minister) is not right. Does this silence mean to the people of the North-East, and Manipur in particular, that they have no importance in the scheme of the Indian state? If you had any concern for this state, there would have been silence in this House. If you want to doubt the nationality and nationalism of this state, you must understand that these people fought for the country.”

“Today, the North-East remains outside the history books of India. That is why you treat them like any other. And it is this silence on the tragedy of Manipur that reflects the general continuity of post-colonialism. A nationalist party like the BJP will be content with silence on the tragedy of Manipur. Keep your hands on your heart and think of the 60,000 people languishing in the relief camps. Think of the mothers and widows and then talk about nationalism. Pain and anger have driven a nobody like me to be a part of this temple of democracy. If you hear anxiety and pain in my voice, go and see those 60,000 people languishing in the relief camp. Don’t talk about Partition, till you have been there (in the relief camps of Manipur).” I will keep quiet the moment the Prime Minister opens his mouth and a nationalist party says that ‘Manipur is a part of India and we care about the people of this state,’ he added.