'PM should come to Manipur, see ground reality': Locals after Modi's speech in Parliament
The people of Manipur want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come to the strife-torn state, sit with them and witness the ground reality. They said the Prime Minister should have spoken about the Manipur violence sooner.
Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on Manipur violence in Parliament, residents of the state said the Prime Minister should come to the state to see the ground reality. India Today spoke to the people of Manipur in Imphal after PM Modi's response to the no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha and most of the people were of the opinion that PM Modi should have spoken about the Manipur violence earlier, which could have brought normalcy.
Lakhpati, a 47-year-old social activist, asked why PM Modi took so long to speak about Manipur.
"I am surprised. He should react to every incident in the country. If such an incident happened in Kashmir, what would have happened in the Parliament?" the activist asked.
"For 100 days, he was silent? I condemn the silence of the PM in those first 75 days," Lakhpati said, adding that the Prime Minister should have spoken earlier.
The Prime Minister in his speech said that the country stands with Manipur and the Centre and state governments are working together to restore peace in the region.
His speech came amid calls by the Opposition for his statement on the Manipur ethnic violence that has claimed over 150 lives. The Opposition had moved the no-confidence motion demanding a statement from the Prime Minister on the situation in Manipur.
"The discussion should have happened way back. Why did it take so long? I feel that the PM should visit the state as well. If the PM comes here, he will see the ground reality. Instead of coming during elections, he should come now," a 29-year-old businessman, Laishram Amir Kumar, told India Today.
Another resident, Bhabananda, also expressed similar sentiments. "The PM should come and visit the violence-hit spots. He should meet the villagers, sit and talk with them. His visit will send a positive message," he said.
"Debate is going on in Parliament and it is okay. But a positive message will be sent if the Prime Minister visits Manipur and meets various communities," another resident, Ashang Kasar, said.
Violence broke out in Manipur on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, killing over 160 people since then, and injuring hundreds.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mainly in the hill districts.
