Mahesh Kumar
On Monday, December 9, leaders of the INDIA Bloc held a sit-in demonstration at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, calling for immediate steps to restore peace and normalcy in Manipur, a state reeling from violence for nearly two years.
A delegation, led by Kshetrimayum Shanta, convener of 10 political parties in Manipur associated with the alliance, travelled over 3,000 kilometres to protest at Jantar Mantar to spotlight the dire conditions in the state.
Over the past 19 months, Manipur has witnessed unprecedented turmoil, resulting in numerous deaths, large-scale destruction of property, and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The state has been gripped by ethnic violence since May 2023, which has claimed hundreds of lives, displaced tens of thousands, and caused severe ethnic polarization.
The sit-in highlighted the INDIA Bloc’s resolve to ensure justice and peace in Manipur and pressed for immediate intervention from the central government.
Prominent speakers at the event included Jyoti Mani and Gourav Gogoi of the Congress, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat, Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, and kisan leaders Vijoo Krishnan and Hannan Mollah. D. Raja of the CPI also addressed the gathering.
Congress leader Gourav Gogoi criticized the Modi government’s inaction, said, “With profound grief, we are stand in front of you. More than one year has passed, and yet the situation in Manipur continues to remain serious.”
“The INDIA Alliance is standing with Manipur, but the BJP has turned its back on the people of Manipur. Few days ago, the Prime Minister lied that there is peace in North-East and there is ongoing development. Is Manipur not a part of North-East,” Gogoi asked.
CPI(M) Coordinator Prakash Karat echoed similar sentiments, accusing the Modi government of neglect.
“It has been 18 months since violence broke out in Manipur, yet the normalcy has not returned. The delegation from Manipur have come here to tell us that the central government has not taken any steps to bring peace and normalcy in the state,” Karat said.
Others leaders of INDIA Bloc also emphasized the urgent need for decisive action to address the ongoing violence and rebuild harmony in the state.
The leaders reiterated their commitment to fostering unity and strengthening bonds across all sections of society—irrespective of caste, creed, community, or ethnicity—to rebuild trust and integrity in the state.
Key Demands Raised by the INDIA Bloc:
1. Prime Minister’s Immediate Visit to Manipur: The Prime Minister must urgently visit Manipur to oversee efforts to restore peace and ensure that the territorial integrity of the state is preserved.
2. Accountability of the Prime Minister: The Prime Minister should be held accountable for failing to address the prolonged crisis and for his absence from the state during this critical period.
3. Resignation of the Union Home Minister: The Union Home Minister should step down on moral grounds, given his inability to resolve the violence over the last 19 months.
4. Dismissal of the Chief Minister: The Chief Minister of Manipur should be removed from office for allowing the crisis to escalate unchecked.
The INDIA Bloc pledged to persist in its democratic struggle to bring peace and normalcy back to Manipur.
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