Modi government's silence on Manipur not normal: Inner Manipur MP Bimol Akoijam in Lok Sabha

In a fiery speech late Monday night, the first-time Congress member from Inner Manipur drew attention to the 60,000 people living in deplorable conditions in relief camps in the northeastern state for the past year.

New Delhi: Congress MP A Bimol Akoijam has questioned the Narendra Modi government’s silence on Manipur, which has been hit by ethnic violence, saying it is not normal.

In his speech during the debate on Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address on Monday night, the Inner Manipur MP said his state is the “most militarised” one with each and every square centimetre covered by the central armed forces.

“There are more armed police personnel than civil police. Despite this, 60,000 people are rendered homeless and villages in thousands destroyed. Yet the Prime Minister remains mute. There is not even a word about it in the President’s address…This silence is not normal,” he said.

He said 60,000 people are languishing in relief camps in “wretched” conditions.

“There is a civil war-like situation. People are armed to the teeth and roaming around…The Indian state is a mute spectator” he said adding over people have died.

He said if the government had an iota of concern for Manipur, there should not have been silence on the violence in the state.