Manipur Assembly session adjourned sine die after 11 minutes of uproar without discussion

The Assembly, however, adopted a resolution to try to resolve all the differences among the people through dialogue and Constitutional means.

The one-day session of the Manipur Assembly was adjourned sine die after only 11 minutes of business on Tuesday without discussion on the prevailing situation in the state amid an uproar over the Opposition Congress's demand for an extension of the session to five days.

The BJP-led state cabinet had earlier recommended the one-day session and sought to adopt some resolutions concerning the present situation. However, five Congress MLAs and one belonging to JD(U) demanded that the session be extended for five days for a thorough discussion on the situation. The Congress legislators shouted slogans as the session started at 11 am and CM N Biren Singh tried to move a resolution regarding the violence. Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata adjourned the House for half an hour but the MLAs continued to shout and sloganeer.

Amid the ruckus, the state government adopted a resolution condoling the loss of lives in the nearly four-month-long violence. "This House unanimously resolves to work for the oneness and harmony of all the people of Manipur. The House also resolves that as peace is the priority of the state, this House will strive to resolve all the differences among the people, till complete peace returns to the entire state, through dialogue and Constitutional means," said the resolution.

The resolution also sought to appeal to all not to "pay heed to divisionary elements", maintain peace and shun violence in the interest of the state and the nation.

The CM, however, said discussion on matters related to the violence is not required as those are sub-judice.

Reacting to the development, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posted in X (formerly Twitter), "What a farce! There was simply no reason why with its huge majority, the ruling party could not have had the session for a few days at the very least. The reason is simple: if the Assembly Session had functioned, the differences and fissures within the BJP would have come into full display and that too on the floor of the Assembly."

Congress leaders hoisted a black flag at Raj Bhavan, Imphal after the session was adjourned sine die with former CM Okram Ibobi Singh calling it a "black day" in Manipur's history of parliamentary democracy.

The one-day session was convened as the last session of the Assembly was held in March and as per the norms, an Assembly must meet every six months. Ten Kuki MLAs, however, skipped the session citing safety concerns for the Kuki Zomi people in Imphal.

Over 160 people have died and more than 60,000 others have been displaced in the violence between the Meitei and the Kuki communities since May 3. The situation in the state has still remained a concern and an incident of firing was reported in Bishnupur district even on Tuesday.