"The biggest crisis we are facing today is that there has been an erosion of public trust in the State, the State of India, the state of Manipur and its institutions. And that legitimacy has to be regained during this period of President's rule," Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said.
"On top of that we are seeing the state facing severe challenges from illegal immigration and drug trafficking, exacerbating the social and economic conditions I have mentioned," the Congress MP said.
Tharoor asked why the House took up the Manipur issue at 2 am on Thursday after 14-hour and debate and voting on the much talked about Waqf Bill.
Shashi Tharoor hoped peace and normalcy will be restored in the border state soon.
"The Manipur discussion was essentially to approve the proclamation of the President's rule and that happened peacefully without any fundamental disagreement... Let us hope that peace and normalcy will be restored," he said.
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah moved the resolution for the Lok Sabha's clearance for President's rule in the state where ethnic violence began nearly two years ago. Mr Shah said there has been no violence in Manipur for the last four months, adding the situation in the state is under control.
"For the past four months, there has been no violence in Manipur... I will not say the situation in Manipur is satisfactory, but it is under control... Congress does not have that many MPs that they will move a no-confidence motion," he said.
The valley-dominant Meitei community and over a dozen distinct tribes collectively known as Kuki, who are dominant in some hill areas of Manipur, have been fighting since May 2023 over a range of issues such as land rights and political representation.
Over 250 have died in the violence and nearly 50,000 have been internally displaced.
The general category Meiteis want to be included under the Scheduled Tribes category, while the Kukis who share ethnic ties with people in neighbouring Myanmar's Chin State and Mizoram want a separate administration carved out of Manipur, citing discrimination and unequal share of resources and power with the Meiteis.
Kuki leaders and groups including militants that represent their tribes and signed the controversial suspension of operations (SoO) agreement have pointed at the ethnic clashes as the reason why they escalated their demand from an autonomous council to a separate administration, or a Union Territory with an assembly.
Meitei leaders have rejected the claim.
Taking to social media platform X, Shashi Tharoor stated, “Had the unusual experience last night of making a speech at 2 AM — and that too in Parliament! The Lok Sabha took up consideration of the Home Minister’s resolution approving the proclamation of President’s Rule in Manipur, and it did so after the prolonged discussion and voting on the Wakf Bill finished at 2 am.”
In the Lok Sabha, Shashi Tharoor said his party supported the resolution but emphasised the restoration of peace and stability in the state. "End insurgency, restore peace and stability, promote dialogue with each other, promote inclusivity," he said.
Declaring the legislation as an opportunity to heal, he said, “My remarks on why President’s Rule represents an opportunity for healing that must not be wasted (Ignore the hubbub at the start, from members protesting the unearthly hour).”
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